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Jammu and Kashmir experienced major disruptions on key highways due to heavy snowfall and landslides. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, along with the Srinagar-Leh route, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Top road, were temporarily closed for vehicular movement. Snowfall in high-altitude areas and heavy rain in the plains caused temperatures to drop sharply. Authorities mobilized road clearance teams, and traffic was expected to resume gradually. Pilgrimages to Vaishno Devi and Machail Mata remained suspended, while schools in the Jammu division stayed closed, affecting daily routines.
Bad weather in Jammu and Kashmir led to widespread disruption on key highways, affecting both daily commuters and tourists. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, was closed in the morning due to landslides and falling rocks between Udhampur and Banihal. The 434-km Srinagar-Leh National Highway, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Top road also faced closures because of snow accumulation in high-altitude regions. Advertisement
Fresh snowfall was reported in areas including Zojila Pass, which recorded six inches, while Peer Ki Gali on the Mughal Road and Sinthan Top in Kishtwar saw three to four inches. Upper reaches of Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch districts also experienced snow. Meanwhile, plains were affected by heavy overnight rain, bringing temperatures down significantly. Jammu city recorded a maximum of 21.3°C, 11.1 degrees below normal, and a minimum of 15°C, nearly six degrees below the seasonal average.
Traffic authorities mobilized road clearance agencies to restore connectivity. Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway was temporarily stopped at Nagrota, with plans to resume movement by late afternoon in alternating directions between the twin capitals. These highways had already faced damage during record rainfall in August-September, requiring ongoing repair work. Officials advised people to avoid travel until roads are fully restored.
Religious tourism was also impacted. Pilgrimages to Vaishno Devi in Reasi district and Machail Mata in Kishtwar district remained suspended for the third day. All government and private schools in Jammu division were closed for the second consecutive day. Udhampur recorded the highest rainfall of 100.2 mm in 24 hours, followed by Batote at 98.2 mm and Banihal at 75.8 mm. Katra, the base for Vaishno Devi pilgrims, recorded 44 mm of rain, while Jammu city received 38.6 mm. The meteorological department forecasted improvement in overall weather from Wednesday, with no rain or snowfall expected for the next two weeks.
Source PTI
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