The season’s first heavy snowfall across the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh disrupted normal life on Thursday. Overnight rainfall in the plains of the Jammu division led to a significant drop in temperature.

The tourist spots of Gulmarg and Pahalgam in Kashmir and Bhaderwah and Patnitop in Jammu were covered under thick snow.

All three main highways – Jammu-Srinagar, Srinagar-Kargil (Ladakh), and the Mughal Road – have been shut for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall and landslides. Snow, landslides, and shooting stones have been reported on the Jammu-Srinagar highway where portions of the road were washed away at Kishtwari Pather and Sherbibi. Snowfall and heavy rain were reported between Ramsoo and Banihal. Shooting stones near T-2 (tunnel) were hampering the restoration work of the highway.

Electric supply at several places was snapped and power corporation personnel were engaged in restoring it.

Most places in the Kashmir valley have turned white bringing cheers to the farmers, tourists, and locals who were worried because of the long-stretched dry spell. Agriculturists in the hilly areas of Jammu are hopeful that the rain will be beneficial for their crops.

Many areas in Ladakh, including the Zojila axis on the Srinagar-Leh highway, received fresh snowfall. Snowfall occurred at most places in Kargil, Zanskar, Zojila, Mini-Marg, and Drass, and also over the higher reaches of Leh.

Efforts are on in full swing to clear snow in the Baramulla district where 70% of roads, including the Tangmarg-Gulmarg road, have been de-iced and traffic restored. The district administration has deployed 50 snow cutter machines for snow clearance operations.

The upper areas of the Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi districts of Jammu also experienced heavy snowfall. The respective district administrations were engaged in restoring road connectivity and electric supply.

Electric supply was badly disrupted at certain places in Baramulla, Shopian, Kupwara, Kulgam, and Ganderbal districts of the Kashmir valley. The power department has deployed its staff to restore the electric supply by the evening.

The famous Vaishnodevi Shrine too was covered under a blanket of snow.

The meteorological department has predicted gradual improvement in the situation. Another snow spell of lesser intensity is very likely from 3 to 4 February. Mainly dry weather is expected during the period from 5-15 February.

Meanwhile, former chief minister and DPAP president Ghulam Nabi Azad posted on X a photo in which he and his wife Ms Shamima are seen standing alongside a “snowman” at their home in Srinagar.