Transportation Chaos in Kashmir: Heavy Snowfall Forces Shutdown of Srinagar Airport and Disrupts Railway Operations

Srinagar, 04-02-2024 : Amidst a blanket of snow, the Kashmir valley, including the capital city Srinagar, bore witness to the most substantial snowfall of the season, leading to the cancellation of all flights at Srinagar Airport on Sunday, as reported by officials. The inclement weather conditions prevailed, with ongoing snowfall in Srinagar and other regions of the valley.

Authorities declared a halt to all flights, both incoming and outgoing, at the Srinagar International Airport due to the adverse weather conditions. Simultaneously, the railway operations in Kashmir faced disruptions as trains experienced delays caused by the heavy snowfall.

Despite the challenges, the traffic on the Srinagar Jammu Highway continued to operate, albeit under challenging conditions. Traffic police issued a cautionary advisory urging people to adhere to lane discipline and exercise caution while navigating the roads, especially on the single-lane stretch between Nashri and NAVYUG Tunnel, where slippery conditions prevailed.

The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri-Sonamarg-Gumrig Ladakh road also succumbed to closure due to the snowfall. Srinagar and its neighboring areas were transformed into a winter wonderland, adorned with a thick layer of snow—the most substantial accumulation witnessed in the current season.

Efforts were underway, with authorities deploying manpower and machinery to clear the roads of snow, ensuring their viability for traffic. The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar reported that the plains of the Kashmir valley received 3-6 inches of snowfall, while the middle and higher reaches experienced a more substantial 8–12 inches in the past 24 hours.

In the Jammu Division, light to moderate rain with thunder occurred over the plains, accompanied by light to moderate snowfall in the middle and higher altitudes during the same period. The weather forecast indicated that cloud cover would persist in some areas, with light to moderate snow expected to continue in many places until the afternoon or late afternoon, gradually improving thereafter.

Looking ahead, the Meteorological office predicted partly to generally cloudy weather on February 5, with the possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches. From February 6 to 13, dry weather was anticipated.

The Meteorological data revealed specific snowfall and rainfall figures for various regions, including Srinagar, Qazigund, Pahalgam, Kupwara, Kokernag, and Gulmarg over the past 24 hours. Srinagar recorded a low of -0.7 °C on Sunday, with the maximum temperature in the Kashmir Valley dropping below the normal range to 4–7 °C following the snowfall.

Srinagar recorded a maximum of 1.7 °C, significantly lower than the normal of 8.9 °C on the previous day. Other regions also experienced sub-zero temperatures, contributing to the wintry landscape that enveloped the Kashmir valley.

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