A day after widespread rain and snowfall lashed Jammu and Kashmir, biting cold gripped the Kashmir Valley on Saturday, while heavy snow continued to cut off the region for the second consecutive day, officials said.
Although the snow and rain that began on Thursday night stopped by Friday night, their impact continued to disrupt normal life, with several highways — including the strategic Srinagar–Jammu National Highway — remaining closed.
The power supply continued to remain disrupted in some parts of the Valley, while flight operations at Srinagar airport continued to remain suspended for the second consecutive day.
“Due to adverse weather conditions and snowfall in Srinagar, the runway is currently not available for safe aircraft operations. In the interest of passenger safety, all flight operations to and from Srinagar have been cancelled for the day,” Director Airport Javeed Anjum said.
He said airline and airport authorities are closely monitoring the weather situation and will resume operations as soon as conditions improve and the runway is declared operational.
The strong Western Disturbance that struck Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday evening dumped nearly a month’s worth of rainfall within just two days, bringing an end to a prolonged dry spell across the Valley.
Higher reaches experienced moderate to heavy snowfall, with the ski resort of Gulmarg recording the highest accumulation at 1.7 feet. Kokernag received 1.5 feet, Pahalgam 1.5 feet, Batote 1.4 feet, Bhaderwah 1 foot, Banihal 0.7 feet, and Qazigund 0.3 feet.
Following the precipitation, minimum temperatures plunged sharply across Kashmir.
The summer capital, Srinagar, recorded a low of –1.4°C, while Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir, settled at –4.2°C. The hill resort of Pahalgam shivered at –7.6°C, Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded –4.0°C, and Kokernag dipped to –6.2°C. Gulmarg was the coldest place in the Valley, with temperatures plunging to –12.0°C, while Sonamarg recorded a minimum of –10.5°C.
In south and central Kashmir, Pulwama recorded –3.4°C and Shopian –7.1°C.
Meteorological officials said the Western Disturbance has weakened, but warned that cold conditions are likely to persist over the next few days.
The Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate rain and snowfall at most places across Jammu and Kashmir on January 26 and 27, with the possibility of moderate to heavy snowfall accompanied by thunder and gusty winds at a few places, particularly during the night of January 26 and January 27.
