Season's First Snowfall in Srinagar and Kashmir Valley Brings Relief and Joy

The long-awaited snowfall finally arrived in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir on Friday, covering the region in a white blanket. This change in weather brought joy to both residents and tourists. A western disturbance caused light to moderate snowfall across most areas, including the plains, according to officials. Snowfall began in the higher regions during the morning, while the plains, including Srinagar, experienced it later in the afternoon.

The snowfall was welcomed by locals who had been facing challenges due to a prolonged dry spell. Yawar Hussain, a resident, expressed relief, saying that the snow would benefit tourism and agriculture. "We had low water levels, power generation was low and the absence of snow would have been bad news for our farmers and orchardists," he stated. The snowfall is expected to alleviate common ailments like coughs and colds.

Impact on Tourism and Agriculture

Tourists were delighted by the snowfall, with many capturing moments through photographs. Priya, a tourist in Lal Chowk, shared her excitement: "This is a sight to behold. We are lucky to have witnessed snowfall in Srinagar. It feels surreal. It is a dream come true." Another tourist, Pankaj Kumar, described his experience as magical and memorable.

In addition to Srinagar, areas such as Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama also recorded their first snowfall of the season. Popular tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam were covered in snow as well. The snowfall extended to higher reaches including Gurez and Zojila axis.

Transportation Disruptions

The snowfall led to some disruptions in transportation. The Srinagar-Leh Highway and Mughal Road were closed due to snow accumulation. Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was also affected, leaving about 2,000 vehicles stranded. However, after clearing operations began, heavy vehicles were allowed to move.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shared his experience of driving from Jammu to Srinagar amidst continuous snowfall from Banihal to Srinagar. He noted that conditions were treacherous with around 2,000 vehicles stuck between the tunnel and Qazigund. "While snow clearance has been done the road is very icy," Abdullah mentioned in a post on X.

Weather Conditions and Temperature

The inclement weather also impacted air travel at Srinagar airport with several flights cancelled due to low visibility and snow accumulation on the runway. The Kashmir University postponed all exams scheduled for Saturday because of adverse weather conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted light intermittent snowfall continuing through the night with an improvement expected by Saturday forenoon. Despite a slight rise in night temperatures at most places in the Valley, minimum temperatures remained several degrees below freezing.

Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday night. Other areas like Gulmarg and Pahalgam also experienced freezing temperatures with lows of minus 6 degrees Celsius and minus 8 degrees Celsius respectively.

Chillai-Kalan's Influence

Kashmir is currently experiencing Chillai-Kalan, which is considered the harshest period of winter starting from December 21 until January 30 next year. During this time, snowfall chances are highest with significant drops in temperature.

This period is followed by Chillai-Khurd (small cold) lasting 20 days and Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) lasting 10 days. The cold wave continues even after Chillai-Kalan ends.