Power, roads, flights hit as massive snowfall, fierce winds bring Kashmir to a standstill
Srinagar, KNT: The Kashmir Valley and several other parts of Jammu were battered by an intense combination of fierce windstorms and heavy snowfall, triggering one of the most disruptive winter weather events the region has witnessed in recent years. Over a short span, the powerful system, driven by successive western disturbances, brought life to a near standstill across urban centres, rural belts and mountainous terrain.
As the storm intensified late Thursday and continued through Friday, heavy to very heavy snowfall blanketed vast areas of the Valley, including parts of Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama, Bandipora and Kulgam. Srinagar recorded its first major snowfall of the season, with around three to four inches accumulating city outskirts. Higher reaches such as Gulmarg, Shopian and parts of Kupwara were buried under two to five feet of snow, while isolated pockets in south Shopian and north Kashmir reported accumulations reaching five to six feet, much of it falling within a compressed 15-hour window.
Tourist destinations including Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg were transformed into winter landscapes, even as access routes turned hazardous and movement became severely restricted. The abrupt transition from a prolonged dry spell to intense snowfall dramatically altered the region’s landscape and mobility.
Compounding the snowfall were powerful windstorms that lashed multiple districts. High-velocity winds uprooted trees, blew off rooftops, damaged signboards, collapsed boundary walls and caused extensive structural damage in Srinagar and its outskirts, Tangmarg, Khag and several villages across central and north Kashmir. Vehicles were damaged and electricity poles snapped, triggering a widespread collapse of the power distribution network.
At the peak of the disruption, almost all 33 kV feeders across the Valley were knocked out, causing the active power load to plunge from the usual 1,700 MW to below 100 MW and plunging more than 80 percent of the region into darkness. The Chief Minister’s Office said restoration efforts were underway but were hampered by extensive tree fall and strong winds, with damage assessment expected to take time due to prevailing conditions.
Power restoration teams were deployed on a war footing, but slippery terrain, deep snow and continuing gusty winds repeatedly damaged freshly repaired lines, slowing progress. The power supply was later restored after the hard efforts put by the employees of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited. Transport and connectivity suffered major setbacks. Srinagar International Airport cancelled all flights due to persistent snowfall and poor visibility, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. The Jammu-Srinagar Highway, NH 44, was closed in both directions after heavy snow accumulation and landslide risks along critical stretches including Banihal, Ramban, Nashri and the Banihal Qazigund sector near the Navayug Tunnel.
Other key routes, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust, including the Srinagar-Leh highway at Zojila Pass, NH 244 connecting Kishtwar with Anantnag via Sinthan, and the Mughal Road through Peer Ki Gali, were also rendered impassable. Rail connectivity remained partially functional, with railway staff working round the clock to clear snow and maintain essential services.
In Jammu’s higher reaches, including Poonch, Udhampur and areas around the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, moderate to heavy snowfall blocked several roads and triggered rescue operations that saved over 100 stranded individuals. The Jammu plains experienced moderate rainfall, adding to weather-related challenges.
The Meteorological Department issued multiple alerts, including heavy snowfall warnings and an orange alert for gusty winds, thunderstorms and possible hailstorms across parts of the Pir Panjal range, Chenab Valley and south Kashmir. Wind speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour were reported in several areas, while temperatures across Kashmir and Ladakh were forecast to plunge between minus two and minus eight degrees Celsius, intensifying the cold wave and avalanche risk in higher reaches.
Authorities urged inhabitants to remain indoors during high winds, avoid unnecessary travel, particularly towards higher elevations, and strictly follow traffic and weather advisories. While the most intense phase of the disturbance has begun to ease, another active western disturbance is expected to affect the region between January 26 and 28, potentially bringing fresh precipitation.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged the widespread damage but said gradual improvements were underway, with priority given to restoring electricity, reopening major roads and ensuring public safety. While the heavy snowfall is expected to replenish water resources and benefit agriculture in the long term, the Valley continues to grapple with the immediate aftermath of a storm that has severely tested its infrastructure and resilience. [KNT]
