Snowfall Brings Kashmir to a Halt: Key Highways Shut, 17 Flights Cancelled at Srinagar Airport
Snow accumulation near Navyug Tunnel forces closure of NH-44 rail services disrupted and more flight cancellations likely as adverse weather persists.
Srinagar, Jan 23: Traffic on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was suspended in both directions on Thursday morning following fresh snowfall in and around the Navyug Tunnel, officials said.
The Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall from late Wednesday night, severely affecting road, rail, and air connectivity. Authorities halted vehicular movement between Jammu and Srinagar after snow accumulation made the highway unsafe for travel.
Besides NH-44, several other key routes including the Mughal Road, Srinagar–Sonamarg–Gumri (SSG) Road, and Sinthan Road were also closed due to fresh snowfall.
Traffic authorities have advised commuters to avoid travel on these routes until snow clearance operations are completed and roads are declared safe. The public has also been urged not to rely on rumours and to check official Traffic Police channels for the latest updates.
Meanwhile, at least 17 flights to and from Srinagar Airport were cancelled owing to ongoing snowfall and adverse weather conditions. Airport officials said more cancellations were likely as weather conditions remained unfavourable.
The cancelled flights included services connecting Srinagar with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Jammu. Passengers have been advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for updated flight schedules.
Rail services on the Banihal–Baramulla section were also affected, with several passenger trains cancelled due to heavy snowfall in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials added.
