- विज्ञापन -
Srinagar: Heavy snowfall significantly impacted daily life across the Valley on Saturday, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway between the Pir Panjal tunnel and Srinagar city.
Contrary to predictions of light snowfall in isolated areas, heavy snow began falling on Friday afternoon and continued into Saturday morning.
The road conditions became extremely slippery, causing numerous vehicles to become stuck between the Pir Panjal tunnel and Srinagar city. Many vehicles were trapped inside the tunnel for hours as heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures froze the accumulated snow on the highway.
Efforts by authorities to clear the stranded vehicles were hampered by the relentless snowfall, which made movement nearly impossible. Several heavy and light vehicles skidded off the road as drivers struggled to navigate through the thick snow.
Senior civil and police officials deployed snow clearance machines in Kulgam and Anantnag districts to assist in clearing the national highway. As of Saturday morning, full traffic movement on the highway had not yet resumed.
To assist those affected by the unexpected heavy snowfall, authorities have established helplines in every district of the Valley. All roads in Srinagar and surrounding districts—including Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, and Shopian—were blocked due to the snow, but snow clearance teams began working in the morning to restore access.
The heavy snowfall also caused widespread power outages, with electric supply disrupted in most areas except for some parts of Srinagar. Electric poles were uprooted, transmission lines were damaged, and power grids were affected.
Despite the challenges posed by the snowfall, many locals welcomed the precipitation, as it ended a prolonged dry spell and raised hopes for a good Rabi crop. Many perennial springs and wells had been running low due to insufficient rainfall over the past four months.
Srinagar and nearby areas, including the plains of other districts, experienced their first snowfall of the season yesterday, with tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg receiving about 10 inches of fresh snow. The weather office has predicted more rain and snow in the next 24 hours.
