Srinagar, Dec 21: Snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir and rain in the plains marked the beginning of Chillai Kalan, the region’s 40-day harshest winter period, bringing much-needed relief after a prolonged dry spell.
The precipitation, which began overnight and continued intermittently on Sunday, ended weeks of dry weather that had raised concerns over water availability, agriculture, and public health across Kashmir.
Light to moderate snow was reported from several high-altitude areas, including the popular tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
Officials said Gulmarg, in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, recorded up to 5 inches of fresh snow, while Sonamarg, along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, saw snowfall beginning early Sunday morning, turning the area into a winter landscape.
Sadhna Top, the mountain pass connecting the Tangdhar sector near the Line of Control (LoC) to the rest of Kashmir, received moderate snowfall, with about 8 inches accumulating since Saturday night.
The other passes in Kashmir – Tulail and Razdan Top in north Kashmir, Zojila Top in Ganderbal, and Sinthan Top, Margan Top, and Peer Ki Gali in the south also received 5 to 8 inches of snowfall.
In the plains, including Srinagar, Anantnag, and Baramulla, light to moderate rain fell – the first significant rainfall of the season.
Residents welcomed the change, as the dry spell had led to an increase in respiratory ailments like coughs and colds, particularly among children and the elderly.
The rain and snow on the first day of Chillai Kalan are regarded as a sign of plentiful snowfall in the weeks ahead.
A dry winter last year had caused hardship for residents and posed challenges for the tourism sector.
The Meteorological Department has forecast more rain and snowfall across Kashmir over the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, overcast skies led to a rise in minimum temperatures.
Srinagar recorded its warmest night of the winter season at 4 degrees Celsius, about 6 degrees Celsius above normal.
Gulmarg was the only station to record sub-zero temperatures, settling at minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, still above the seasonal average.
Other locations, including Pahalgam in south Kashmir, recorded minimum temperatures between 2.5 and 3.8 degrees Celsius.
Chillai Kalan begins on December 21 and lasts until January 29.
It is followed by two shorter cold phases, Chillai Khurd and Chillai Bacha.
The Meteorological Department has forecast more rains in the plains and snow in the upper reaches in the next 48 hours.
KEY ROUTES SHUT
The season’s first major snowfall forced the closure of all key roads connecting Kashmir with the Chenab valley and Pir Panjal regions, officials said on Sunday.
Authorities said the routes are likely to remain closed in the event of continued snowfall and slippery conditions.
The closed roads include the Kokernag-Sinthan-Kishtwar road, the Kokernag-Warwan-Marwa road linking south Kashmir’s Anantnag district with Kishtwar and its twin valleys, and the Mughal Road connecting Rajouri with Shopian district.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kokernag, Prince Kumar, told Greater Kashmir that snowfall at Sinthan Top and adjoining areas since early morning led to the temporary closure of the Kishtwar route.
Margan Top also received snowfall, shutting the road leading to the Warwan and Marwa valleys.
Officials said around 6 inches of snow had accumulated at Sinthan and Margan Tops.
“In case of heavy snowfall, these roads are likely to remain closed until March or April due to heavy accumulation at the passes,” an official said.
Warwan and Marwa also experienced light to moderate snowfall, officials said.
Roads to these regions typically remain closed for nearly six months during winter.
While Kishtwar is accessible through the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway via Doda, the twin valleys of Marwa and Warwan – home to about 40,000 people across 40 villages – remain cut off from the Kishtwar district headquarters.
The 100-kilometer Larnoo-Margan Top-Warwan Road, opened in 2007 to connect the valleys with Kokernag, serves as their only surface link to the outside world.
In its absence, residents either trek long distances to reach Kishtwar or wait until summer to travel via the Kokernag-Sinthan route.
Meanwhile, the Mughal Road linking Shopian with Rajouri and Poonch districts was also closed following snowfall at Peer Ki Gali.
“It has been snowing on the Shopian side as well, making the road slippery and unsafe,” an official said, adding that the closure is temporary for now.
In case of continued snowfall and further accumulation around Peer Ki Gali, the road is likely to be shut for the winter season.
Officials said more than 8 inches of snowfall has been recorded so far at Peer Ki Gali, Sinthan Top and Margan Top.
Irfan Raina reports from Ganderbal
The Zojila Pass along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway was closed for vehicular movement due to fresh snowfall, officials said on Sunday.
An official said that the road has been closed, keeping in view the fresh snowfall.
He said that light to moderate and fresh snowfall was recorded at the health resort of Sonamarg, along with Zojila, Baltal, and Thajwas areas in Ganderbal district.
In the Kargil district, areas including Drass, Minamarg, and Gumri also received light snowfall, intensifying winter conditions across higher altitudes.
Owing to the fresh accumulation of snow, vehicular movement on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway was temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.
An official said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) started snow-clearance operations on the Zojila stretch to restore connectivity, subject to weather conditions.
He said that due to fresh snowfall and low temperatures, slippery conditions prevailed on the Sonamarg road, making driving difficult for the commuters.
Authorities have advised drivers intending to travel in snow-bound areas to use snow chains on their vehicle wheels to ensure better grip and safety on slippery roads.
Health resort Sonamarg received 4 inches of snowfall on Sunday, bringing cheer on the faces of hundreds of tourists visiting the resort.
In light of the prevailing inclement weather, district Police and Traffic Police, Rural, Ganderbal, swiftly mobilised teams to ensure the safety and well-being of the people, particularly tourists and passengers travelling in snow-affected areas.
The Police teams from Police Station Sonamarg and Gund near tourist destination Sonamarg and remote areas prone to heavy snowfall are actively provided assistance to tourists, passengers, and vehicles facing difficulties due to slippery road conditions in snow, especially in critical locations of Sonamarg and Gaganger.
Hundreds of tourists, including children, were seen enjoying the snowfall at Sonamarg, despite the fresh snowfall bringing a dip in temperature.
“We are enjoying the snowfall. We feel lucky that we witnessed it this time,” a tourist from Mumbai said.
“We were here for a couple of days and were not expecting snow this time. The timely snowfall has brought so much joy to us,” another tourist from Bangalore said.
Meanwhile, hoteliers and people associated with tourism at Sonamarg are expecting good business this winter season.
Tarique Raheem reports from Kupwara
The higher reaches of Kupwara became inaccessible following fresh snowfall, forcing authorities to suspend traffic movement on roads leading to these areas.
An official told Greater Kashmir that several areas in the frontier district, including Z-Gali in Machil, Ferkhian Top in Keran, and Sadna Top, witnessed significant snow accumulation of 12 to 14 inches.
In response to the adverse weather conditions, the district administration made the decision to suspend vehicular movement on all roads leading to these areas.
The snowfall has rendered the roads leading to the upper reaches dangerously slippery, necessitating the suspension of traffic for the safety of commuters.
The official said that traffic would be restored only after an improvement in the weather conditions, ensuring safer travel conditions for all.
In addition to the snowfall in the upper reaches, several other areas like Jumagund, Budnamal, Kumkadi, Bangus Valley, and Pothwari also experienced snowfall, accompanied by heavy rainfall in the plain areas of the district.
As a precautionary measure, the district administration advised residents living in the upper reaches to refrain from unnecessary outdoor activities until the weather conditions stabilise.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kupwara, Shrikant Balasaheb said that a control room had been set up to keep a close watch on the situation.
“All departments providing essential services have been put on alert, while people are advised to follow traffic advisories,” he said.
Muhammad Taskeen reports from Banihal
The Chenab Valley witnessed a welcome change in weather on Sunday as widespread rainfall lashed the plains while fresh snowfall occurred on the higher elevations Pirpanjal range of mountains, bringing an end to a prolonged dry spell.
As predicted by the Meteorological Department, rain started early Sunday and continued intermittently throughout the day across Chenab Valley.
Light snowfall was reported from the upper reaches of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts. The precipitation has brought much-needed relief to farmers, especially those who had sown Rabi crops, as the rain is expected to improve germination and soil moisture levels.
Locals said the dry conditions had worsened forest fire risks and caused dust pollution on roads, affecting children’s health.
Social activist Showkat Irshad from Mahoo Valley said that seeds of wheat, mustard, and vegetables sown during October and November had remained dry until now, but rainfall has revived hopes of a good crop.
Locals said that the water levels in several streams and springs had dropped drastically, while springs in remote villages had dried up, causing drinking water shortages.
They said that rainfall is expected to help restore these water sources.
Fresh snowfall has also been reported from the Pir Panjal range and the higher reaches of Banihal, Gool, Ramban, Doda, Bhaderwah, and Kishtwar’s Padder, Marwah, and Warwan areas of Chenab valley.
Meanwhile, two-way normal traffic played on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Sumit Bhargav reports from Rajouri
After months of prolonged dry and cold weather, areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Pir Panjal region, witnessed light to moderate rainfall since Saturday midnight, bringing much-needed relief to residents.
The plains and low-lying areas recorded normal to moderate rainfall, while the upper reaches experienced light snowfall, with a few inches of snow reported at several locations.
The change in weather has ended the extended dry spell that had intensified cold conditions across the region.
Although the fresh spell of rain and snowfall led to a slight increase in the cold wave, people welcomed the development with visible joy, terming it beneficial for a healthy winter season.
Locals believe the precipitation will help improve moisture levels, support agriculture, and restore environmental balance after months of dry weather and dusty atmospheric conditions will come to an end.
The weather improvement has also raised hopes among farmers and orchardists, who see the rainfall and snowfall as a positive sign following a long period of dry cold across the Pir Panjal region.
“We were praying to the Almighty to bless us with showers, and it has finally happened,” said Anees Chowdhary, a tribal farmer. “We hope that the wheat crop will have some normalcy in growth now, and extreme dryness will be over.”