New Delhi: Heavy snowfall in parts of the Kashmir Valley and Himachal Pradesh continued to hit daily life with disruptions to rail, road traffic and flights on Friday.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was rendered impassable due to snow accumulation between Ramsoo and Qazigund, while landslides and mudslides between Nashri and the NAVYUG Tunnel further exacerbated the situation. Additionally, the Batote-Doda road was closed following a landslide at Ragi Nalla.
Several other roads, including the SSG Road, Bhaderwah-Chamba Road, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Road, also remained shut due to heavy snowfall and hazardous conditions.
Air and rail travel in the region were similarly impacted. Bad weather led to delays in all morning flights at Srinagar International Airport. Train services in Kashmir were partially affected, with the Budgam-Banihal section operating on schedule, while the Baramulla section experienced significant delays due to heavy snow accumulation. The Kashmir Valley has received fresh snowfall in the past 24 hours, worsening travel conditions.
Himachal Pradesh also hit by snowfall, landslides
In Himachal Pradesh, several roads were closed to vehicular traffic as light to moderate snowfall continued in isolated places in the higher reaches of the state. Intermittent rains also lashed several parts of the middle and lower hills, worsening road conditions.
National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet Road) was closed near Narkanda in Shimla district due to slippery conditions following heavy snowfall. Authorities have diverted traffic from Sainj to Shimla via Luhri and Sunni. In total, 12 roads in Shimla district remain shut due to weather-related hazards.
Meanwhile, a flash flood threat caused panic in Tosh village in the Manikaran Valley in Kullu district. The formation of an artificial lake in Jeera Nallah raised concerns, prompting authorities to evacuate people living downstream to safer locations.
Authorities in both Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh continue to monitor the situation closely and advise residents to exercise caution while travelling.
