Power supply, air traffic hit, hundreds Stranded on Sgr-Jammu highway, 8 inch snow recorded in Sgr
TDD Correspondent
Srinagar, (TDD)A thick blanket of snow has engulfed Kashmir, bringing life to a standstill with severe disruptions in power supply, air traffic, and road connectivity.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed, stranding hundreds of vehicles between the Pir Panjal tunnel and Srinagar city due to treacherous road conditions and heavy snow accumulation. Efforts are underway to clear the highway, but traffic is yet to resume.
Air traffic has also been severely affected, with flights grounded as snow piles up on the runway, leaving passengers stranded. In addition, widespread power outages have been reported across the Valley, with authorities racing to restore supply by repairing snapped transmission lines and uprooted poles.
In Srinagar and other districts, snow-clearing operations are ongoing to unblock roads and restore normalcy. The district recorded 8 inches of overnight snowfall.
Despite these hardships, the snowfall has brought cheer to locals, breaking a prolonged dry spell and raising hopes for a promising Rabi crop. Popular tourist destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg have recorded nearly 10 inches of fresh snow, turning the region into a picturesque winter wonderland and drawing visitors.
The meteorological department has forecast more rain and snow in the next 24 hours, raising concerns about additional disruptions but also boosting hopes for a thriving winter tourism season (TDD)