Moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of the Jammu region on Friday disrupted normal life, forcing the closure of key highways, suspension of the Mata Vaishno Devi yatra, and shutdown of schools in several hilly districts, officials said.
The first snowfall of the season at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, perched atop the Trikuta hills, led authorities to suspend the pilgrimage as a precautionary measure. Pilgrims have been advised to stay back in Katra, and no yatri will be allowed to proceed beyond the base camp until further orders.
As predicted by the Meteorological Department, snowfall began late Thursday evening in high-altitude areas, while intermittent rain lashed the plains, including Jammu city, ending a dry spell that had persisted for over two months.
Snow Accumulation Disrupts Road Connectivity
Officials said upper reaches of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua districts witnessed continuous snowfall, with accumulation ranging from five inches to over one foot in several snowbound areas.
The 270-km Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44)—the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country—was suspended in both directions due to heavy snowfall around the Navyug Tunnel in the Banihal–Qazigund stretch.
“Traffic has been stopped from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa due to fresh snowfall. The Mughal Road, Srinagar–Leh National Highway and Sinthan Pass have also been closed,” a traffic department official said, urging commuters to avoid unnecessary travel.
Schools Shut, Flights Cancelled
As a safety measure, authorities ordered the closure of all schools in the hilly districts of Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua. Police have also activated dedicated helpline numbers across district headquarters to assist residents amid the inclement weather.
Meanwhile, air traffic to and from Kashmir remained suspended after all flight operations were cancelled at the Srinagar airport due to snow accumulation on operational areas.
“In view of continuous snowfall and adverse weather forecasts, all flight operations at Srinagar airport have been cancelled for the day in the interest of passenger safety,” airport officials said, advising passengers to contact airlines for updates.
Most parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar, received fresh snowfall overnight. The Meteorological Department has forecast that the current weather system is likely to continue till Friday evening, raising concerns of further disruptions.
