Kashmir’s mountainous regions experienced fresh snowfall on Sunday, leading to the closure of key roads connecting districts in the region. Mughal Road, which connects Shopian with Rajouri-Poonch districts, and Sinthan Road, linking Anantnag with Kishtwar, were both closed due to the snowfall over the Pir Panjal Mountains.
Officials confirmed that traffic movement on these vital roads was halted following the heavy snow. The Traffic Police Department urged people to avoid traveling on Mughal Road and Sinthan Road until the snow cleared and the roads were made passable. The roads are crucial for connectivity between southern Kashmir and the Jammu division.
According to the Meteorological Department (MeT), fresh snowfall was experienced in areas such as Kupwara, Gulmarg, and Pir ki Gali in the Pir Panjal range. The snowfall was attributed to a weak western disturbance hovering over the region, which brought light snowfall to the higher reaches of Kashmir.
Mukhtar Ahmad, the MeT director, stated that light snowfall was expected over the higher reaches due to the disturbance, but the plains remained mostly dry with cloudy weather. Srinagar, the summer capital, experienced cloudy conditions, but it was unlikely to see snowfall in the coming days. Ahmad added that no major precipitation was expected in the region until December 18, with only isolated precipitation forecasted for the coming week.
Temperatures in Kashmir remained low due to the snowfall, though they were slightly higher than in recent days. Srinagar recorded a temperature of -0.5°C, while Qazigund, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg saw temperatures below freezing. Kupwara and Kokernag were slightly warmer at 0.1°C and 0.4°C, respectively.
In the coming days, weather updates suggest generally cloudy conditions, with light snow expected at higher reaches of Kashmir and light rain over some parts of Jammu Division. The MeT department anticipates a dry spell on December 10 and 11, followed by some isolated snow or rain on December 12.
The snowfall has intensified the cold weather conditions in the region, and residents are urged to remain cautious while traveling through the affected areas.
Sources By Agencies