Prices swung wildly after the “egg scare”, but deregulation now shields sellers, not buyers.

Over the past month, since egg-scare caught Kashmir following the ‘Eggoz’ brand egg controversy, prices have undergone a roller coaster of change.

Back on Kashmiri plates, eggs have become at least 20 percent costlier in just a month, and there is no way consumers can complain about it, thanks to the deregulation of commodity prices in 2023.

All poultry eggs, irrespective of variety and quantity, used to cost at least 30 percent cheaper just a month ago.

When an egg brand ‘Eggoz’ hit the headlines for alleged contaminations and health concerns, consumers in Kashmir went into a frenzy.

Egg trays were returned to local stores, while many discarded their egg trays in panic.

Prices dropped drastically, a tray selling for Rs 100 in some areas.

However, soon after, when it was reiterated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that eggs continue to remain safe, consumers turned to their eggs again as a source of affordable protein in their diets.

Soon, the cost of eggs surged dramatically.

Individual eggs are selling for Rs 8 to Rs 11 per piece.

There has been a 25 to 40 percent increase in some areas.

Kashmir consumers expect the government to intervene and control the prices of eggs.

Joint Controller, Legal Metrology, Kashmir, Tanveer Ahmad, when asked why the prices of eggs cannot be regulated by the administration, said that as per an SO issued in 2023, prices of essential commodities like meat, meat products, fish, fish products, milk, milk products, poultry, and eggs have been decontrolled.

“There is a clear-cut order that no authority will fix the price of any essential commodity. Therefore, the prices of eggs are not under our control,” he said.

He was referring to SO 300 issued by the J&K government on June 1, 2023.

Currently, a box of eggs with seven egg trays costs anywhere between Rs 1500 and Rs 1700.

An egg tray, with 30 eggs, the regular farm white egg variety, can cost Rs 200 to Rs 280.

The organic eggs cost Rs 200 to Rs 300 per dozen.

The egg prices also vary by the area in which they are sold.

Eggs cost cheaper in old parts of the city, in market hubs like Maharaj Bazaar, Safa Kadal, and Batamaloo, compared to Rawalpora, Nishat, and other areas.

In villages, prices vary by distance from town, customarily increasing as the distance increases. In Jammu, an egg tray costs anywhere between Rs 190 and Rs 250.

Over the past week, egg prices have seen a downward trend in Jammu, while the Kashmir division is recording a spike.

A consumer, Danish Ahmad, told Greater Kashmir that he buys eggs in bulk for the family, as his parents have been advised a high-protein diet, while he himself is also a gym trainer.

“Compared to last year, I have to pay Rs 200 extra per box now. Why is no one checking the market?” he said.

Many critics point to a lack of market regulation in winters in Kashmir, as well as disruption in the supply of eggs due to highway impediments.

Why Govt can’t fix egg, meat, poultry prices

In June 2023, the J&K government issued a notification (S O 300, dated June 1, 2023) that revoked the J&K Mutton (Licensing and Control) Order, 1973, that had been issued vide SRO-646 dated December 19, 1973.

This order was prompted by a clarification from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Government of India). The clarification declared that the foundational notification S O 145(E) dated February 15, 1990, which gave price regulation powers to J&K, was no longer valid.

It directed all relevant authorities, including the Directorates of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs J&K to refrain from issuing or enforcing any price notifications or controls on livestock products.

This effectively deregulated prices for key livestock essentials such as mutton, poultry, and eggs.

Without the legal authority, there is no framework to fix maximum retail prices or penalise overcharging.

It is impossible for the government or consumer protection bodies to cap escalating costs. The prices are determined solely by market forces of supply, demand, transportation costs, seasonal factors, and trader discretion.

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The resolve of the gathering was to reduce demand for drugs, while strengthening channels where those who are already in the deadly trap could be helped free from it.

A day-long brainstorming session was organised at the IMHANS, GMC Srinagar.

It aimed to equip religious leaders with the skills and information to speak about substance abuse and reach young people vulnerable to addiction.

The initiative was organised to empower the religious leaders with medical knowledge and Islamic insights to create an environment for the prevention of substance abuse. The event included sessions on early detection and referral of individuals struggling with addiction, ultimately towards the goal of reducing drug demand among youth.

The event saw the participation of religious scholars, medical experts, and officials from the administration, joining hands to create a bridge between spiritual guidance and professional treatment.

The pivotal role of Imams as trusted figures in local communities was highlighted and explored.

An interactive session on ‘Imams as First Responders’ moderated by Dr Fazle Roub, Assistant Professor Psychiatry, GMC Srinagar, opened pathways to youth.

The discussion covered how community members often turn to Imams first for help.

The participants spoke about their understanding and scientific view on dos and don’ts while providing assistance. It weighed various approaches to encourage youth to seek help at de-addiction centres while maintaining confidentiality and reducing stigma.

The participants discussed the Quranic guidance and Islamic perspective on addiction.

Masjids and Friday sermons, the participants agreed, could help in breaking through the shells that people with addiction disorders often retreat into.

“Religious scholars are key to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging early help-seeking,” said Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, who was the chief guest on the occasion.

He reiterated the administration’s endeavour to a multi-sectoral strategy involving health services, civil society, and religious institutions.

Guest of honour, Akshay Labroo, echoed these sentiments and stressed the need for coordinated action.

He said that Imams with the tools to address addiction compassionately could strengthen community-based responses and protect youth from this growing menace.

Principal GMC Srinagar Prof Iffat Hassan Shah underscored the importance of Imams in prevention efforts, early intervention, and reducing societal stigma around addiction. Head of the Department of Psychiatry, GMC Srinagar, Prof Arshad Hussain, delved deep into the escalating burden of substance use disorders while emphasising early intervention and broad community involvement.

Dr Sajjid Wani, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, GMC Srinagar, talked about ‘medical understanding of addiction’ and explained addiction as a disease rather than a moral failing. He detailed common substances abused in Kashmir, warning signs for families and brain changes that undermine willpower.

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In 2025, cat bites outnumbered dog bites in Kashmir, a place where the dog population is among the highest in the country. Kashmir’s newfound love for fuzzy pets at home poses a health threat in the absence of guidelines, monitoring, and illegal practices.

A total of 17,033 animal bite cases were reported from January 1 to December 26 in Kashmir.

For the first time, the data from the Anti-Rabies Clinic, Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, shows that cats accounted for the majority of incidents – 9019 bite cases.

This is significantly higher than the number of dog bite cases recorded during the same period, 7396 in Kashmir.

The figures, compiled from Anti-Rabies Clinics and district health records in the Kashmir division, vividly depict how “cat-loving Kashmir” is changing the face of the animal threat scenario here.

There is no estimate of the number of pet cats in Kashmir, while J&K lacks a mandatory pet registration system.

This has also led to illegal breeding and trade practices of cats, especially the non-local varieties, and has contributed to animal abuse cases.

Srinagar district has come up as the epicenter of animal bites and borne the brunt.

In 2025, there were 13,951 animal bite cases.

These include 8347 cat bites, 5476 dog bites, and 128 others.

Srinagar has also seen the mushrooming of pet shops and pet clinics, mostly unauthorised and unmonitored, putting a question mark over the animal welfare and human safety practices together.

Other districts have also started to see a number of cases – Budgam with 823 cases, Baramulla with 503, Kupwara 201, Bandipora 316, Ganderbal 346, Pulwama 196, Shopian 91, Kulgam 84, and Anantnag 74.

In addition, 494 cases are undivided into districts.

At the Anti-Rabies Clinic, SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, cat bites rose from 1178 in 2022 to 4200 in 2024 and over 6500 in 2025, a shocking 452 percent increase over three years.

The surge is attributed to the growing culture of cats as pets.

This is combined with an enormous stray dog population in Kashmir, estimated to be far larger than canines in many parts of the country.

Dog bite cases have historically dominated headlines in J&K, with over 2,12,968 reported from 2022 to October 2025.

Kashmir division had about 114,498 of those dog bites over the three-year period, outpacing Jammu’s 98,470.

Health experts note that cat bites are often from seemingly docile animals and are consuming a larger share of ARV.

The pet culture is also straining resources amid rising demand.

In terms of severity, Category I (minor, no skin break) 859 cases; Category II (nibbling or minor scratches) 6053 cases; and Category III (transdermal bites or licks on broken skin) 9321 cases were reported.

The post Claws over Jaws: Cats outbite dogs in Kashmir appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

These are aimed at ensuring faster and safer transfers of patients to higher-level medical facilities, in a bid to save lives.

Minister of Health and Medical Education Sakina Itoo said the ambulances come as part of ongoing efforts by the Health and Medical Education Department to strengthen pre-hospital and emergency care.

She said the Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances will be deployed at Government Medical Colleges, Sub-District Hospitals and District Hospitals of Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

Itoo said the ambulances were equipped for advanced critical care and would be flagged off soon.

“We are completing the paperwork for the ambulances, and it will be almost over soon. The ambulances will be sent to all the hospitals where they are needed,” she said.

The minister said the vehicles had been designed to provide life-saving interventions enroute for emergencies, and include ventilators, defibrillators, and other essential critical care equipment.

Itoo said that these would be useful in reducing transit risks for seriously ill or injured patients.

“Our endeavour is bridging the gap to tertiary care centres like Government Medical Colleges and SKIMS,” she said.

However, experts expressed concern over the persistent challenge in the form of an acute dearth of adequately trained staff to operate these advanced vehicles.

Critical care ambulances require skilled paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Many times, doctors trained in advanced life support protocols are also essential to ensure the safe transit of patients.

The doctors are also required for ventilator management, defibrillation, and en-route stabilisation of critically ill patients.

However, J&K’s health sector is grappling with widespread vacancies of nurses, paramedics, and doctors.

Thousands of unfilled posts exacerbated by recruitment delays and limited specialised training programmes for pre-hospital emergency care are another weak area that puts a question mark over the utility and efficacy of the ambulances.

The full potential of these high-tech ambulances would remain underutilised without addressing these shortfalls.

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As the youth population shrinks and the elderly population swells, while the plummeting fertility rates do further snipping of the families, the specter of dementia is casting a longer shadow than ever before.

J&K faces India’s highest dementia prevalence at 11.04 percent, which means one in every nine among those over 60 years of age has dementia.

Lakhs and lakhs of people will need special assistance from families and the system.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

A forgetful parent, who till recently was at the steering wheel of the household, needs assistance for traversing the house.

At times, they need introduction and reintroduction to family members, and forget where they kept their medicines, glasses, or keys.

Neighbours describe them as having a lost demeanor, “not their real self”.

They are restricted by their families from moving out without being escorted.

Life suddenly takes a sharp turn for everyone in the house. This is a form of dementia.

Dementia is a broad term for conditions that affect memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to carry out everyday activities.

It is most common in older adults, mostly considered a normal part of aging.

However, it is not.

People with dementia can have difficulty remembering recent events, solving problems, communicating clearly, or recognising familiar people and places.

The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, although there are other types as well.

There is no cure for dementia currently.

Treatments, support, and healthy lifestyle habits can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

It can also alleviate the burden for families having a member with dementia.

DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS FUELING SURGE

The elevated rates of dementia have been confirmed by the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) released at the beginning of 2025.

It signals a public health emergency.

J&K’s elderly population is increasing.

As per Census 2011, J&K’s 0-14 year age group population was approximately 27 percent of the total, which dropped to 20.6 percent as per SRS 2019.

The low total fertility rate (TFR), the lowest in India (1.4), means the young population is set to shrink.

Late marriages further decrease the number of children per family.

And the longer life span in J&K, among the highest in India, will further increase the elderly population.

High incidence of diabetes and hypertension further heightens dementia onset.

Experts warn that without urgent interventions, J&K could face an unprecedented healthcare crisis.

Families currently grapple with caring for aging parents and grandparents with fewer helping hands.

It will worsen with a smaller number of young ones in families, and more aged ones.

HIGHER THAN NATIONAL, GLOBAL NORMS?

J&K’s 11 percent plus dementia rate exceeds other states – Punjab 5.19 percent, Haryana 5.78 percent, and Kerala 10.6 percent.

The situation that prevailed over J&K over the past few decades and the socio-economic scenario could also be affecting it.

However, there are no solid, citable causes of the higher prevalence, nor are these readily available in medical literature from J&K.

LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADDRESS BURDEN

Kashmir lacks a dementia care setup.

The awareness of dementia is rudimentary.

A 2025 CME at GMC Srinagar was perhaps among the first awareness events.

No screening or specialised care clinics have been set up.

The caregiver family members are often on their own, with no support, taking a toll on their livelihoods and physical and mental health.

Young caregivers juggle jobs and dual dependencies.

Burnout without policy and social intervention is a reality that many live with.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT

Experts believe J&K must adopt a proactive, multi-layered strategy focused on integration, decentralisation, and cultural sensitivity.

Dementia-specific screening, early diagnosis, and management must be integrated into the existing National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) and the National Mental Health Programme, while training human resources in healthcare facilities for meaningful evaluation and intervention.

The district-level geriatric and palliative care facilities need to be planned and executed.

Awareness campaigns must address stigma and cognitive impacts from decades of violence.

Local support groups, caregiver training programs, and helplines must be worked on by civil society.

Policy-wise, J&K needs to push for a state-specific dementia action plan.

A registry for monitoring cases and incentives for private-public partnerships in day-care could help in addressing the caregiver burden.

In addition, risk reduction through better management of hypertension, diabetes, and mental health could help in bringing the numbers down in the future.

The post Kashmir is forgetting and no one is ready appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The over-the-counter tablets and syrups commonly sold under brand names like Nimesulide, Nise, or generics have been banned by the union health ministry.

The decision was notified under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 on 30 December and follows recommendations from the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and a detailed safety review by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The ministry stated that higher-dose oral nimesulide formulations are likely to involve risk to human beings, particularly due to well-documented concerns over hepatotoxicity (liver damage). The ranges of potential damages include elevated liver enzymes and severe acute liver failure in rare cases. Safer alternative pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs are readily available, the notification has emphasised. Nimesulide is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has long been popular in India for treating many types of pain, fever, cramps and inflammation. It is usually prescribed 100 mg twice daily. As per reports, the drug has estimated Rs 500 crore in annual sales in India.However, its safety profile has drawn scrutiny for decades.

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The sanction has been issued through an order promulgated in the name of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in pursuance of directions of the Supreme Court of India.

The newly constituted board is envisaged as a comprehensive institutional platform to advise the government on policy, monitor enforcement, and promote public education on animal welfare across the Union Territory.

According to the order, the Board will function through coordinated engagement with government departments, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups to ensure humane treatment and protection of animals throughout J&K. It has been empowered to perform advisory, regulatory and educational roles, including recommending animal welfare laws, suggesting amendments to existing legislation, and framing subordinate rules, by-laws and statutes. The Board will also work to ensure consistency between municipal laws, UT statutes and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The mandate of the Board includes facilitating and monitoring programmes such as anti-rabies vaccination, animal birth control, establishment and management of shelters and rescue centres, and conducting awareness and sensitisation drives. It will recommend financial allocations and prescribe eligibility criteria for certified proposals submitted by SPCAs and NGOs, which will then be forwarded to the Animal Welfare Board of India for central assistance and grants.

In addition, the Board will undertake periodic inspections of pet shops, breeders, animal markets and related establishments. It will be authorised to oversee registration of licensed entities and recommend suspension or cancellation of licences in cases of violations, through the competent authorities.

As per the composition notified, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir will serve as the Patron of the Board, while the Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry will be its Chairperson. The Board will include a wide range of ex-officio members, among them the Director General of Police or nominee; Administrative Secretaries of the Animal/Sheep Husbandry Department, Housing and Urban Development Department, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, and the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department; the Commissioners of Srinagar and Jammu Municipal Corporations; the Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K; Directors of Urban Local Bodies (Jammu and Kashmir); Directors of Rural Development (Jammu and Kashmir); Directors of Sheep Husbandry (Jammu and Kashmir); Directors of Animal Husbandry (Jammu and Kashmir); an expert veterinary representative from an Agriculture University; and the senior-most Secretary of the Animal Welfare Board of India.

The Board will also have nominated members, including two MLAs nominated by the Board, two representatives from animal welfare NGOs, two representatives from the Chairpersons of SPCAs (Jammu and Srinagar), a representative from the Animal Husbandry Department, two eminent individuals working in the field of animal welfare, and experts from legal, environmental and social domains.

Officials said the constitution of the Board marks a long-awaited institutional mechanism to strengthen animal welfare governance in Jammu and Kashmir, in line with national law and judicial directions.

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In an advisory, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said medicines bearing a prominent vertical red line are prescription-only and must not be consumed without consulting a qualified doctor. The ministry has also launched a public awareness campaign titled “Red Line = Doctor’s Prescription” to curb the rampant misuse of antibiotics and address the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

Across India, antibiotics and several other potent medicines carry the red line marking as a visual warning. Health officials say the sign is meant to discourage over-the-counter use and ensure that such drugs are taken only under medical supervision. However, medical professionals in Kashmir say the advisory underscores a long-standing problem in the region—easy access to prescription medicines without valid prescriptions.

A study conducted between January and June 2023 at Government Medical College, Srinagar, highlights the risks associated with this trend. The research, which analysed wound infections, found a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms, particularly methicillin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA). The findings pointed towards possible antibiotic misuse as a contributing factor.

Doctors say the sale of prescription medicines without prescriptions remains widespread in the Valley. In many neighbourhoods, chemists reportedly dispense one or two capsules—often strong antibiotics—for common complaints, without diagnostic tests or follow-up. Such practices, experts warn, are neither evidence-based nor medically safe, and contribute directly to drug resistance.

Reiterating its message, the Health Ministry said medicines with a red line must be taken strictly on a doctor’s advice. “Look out for the red line,” the ministry said in a post on its X handle, stressing that antibiotic misuse is a primary driver of antimicrobial resistance—a global health crisis in which bacteria evolve to withstand treatment, making common infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections harder to cure.

The issue was also highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his December 28 episode of Mann Ki Baat, where he referred to an Indian Council of Medical Research report flagging rising antibiotic resistance in the country.

In a related outreach effort, the MoHFW sought to dispel common myths around antibiotics. “Not all illnesses require antibiotics,” the ministry said, clarifying that antibiotics work only against bacterial infections and should not be used for viral diseases. The advisory urged people to avoid self-medication and consult licensed healthcare providers for the correct drug, dosage and form.

Health experts have echoed the ministry’s concerns, warning that unless regulation of drug sales improves and public awareness deepens, misuse of red-line medicines could pose serious long-term risks to public health in Kashmir.

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From unexplained deaths and reservation unrest to stalled hospitals, staff shortages, rising lifestyle diseases, and a stray-dog scare, J&K’s health sector spent the year firefighting crises while chasing long-delayed reforms.

MEDICAL MYSTERY

The year 2025 started with a medical mystery, the first of its kind, and perhaps still unsolved to a great extent.

The Budhal village of Rajouri district saw chilling deaths between December 2024 and January 2025, claiming the lives of 17 people, mostly children.

The deaths were preceded by fever, vomiting, dehydration, and brain edema, later attributed to ‘neurotoxins’.

What followed was quarantines, sealed homes, and a containment zone declaration.

Investigations ruled out infectious diseases, viruses, or bacteria, but forensic tests later revealed traces of toxic pesticides, including chlorfenapyr, in the victims’ bodies.

The source of poisoning was never revealed, and answers to how these people actually died continue to remain elusive for the families and the people.

RESERVATION ROW

Perhaps the hottest issue in the medical education sector this year was the demanded and anticipated changes to the J&K Reservation Policy.

With NEET-UG applications opening in February, the aspirants for MBBS and BDS seats, along with aspirants of other professional courses, pressed harder for the rationalisation of the share of Open Merit candidates.

The entire year took the aspirants of professional courses and job aspirants through a roller coaster.

The modified reservation policy document was finally submitted to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the beginning of December.

However, the students and many political figures stood amidst a fresh storm, brewing from being stopped from lodging a protest against the reservation policy.

The modified policy has not been made public yet, the elected government stating that it needs clearance of the LG, who was in possession of the document.

INFRASTRUCTURE UPS AND DOWNS

On the infrastructure front, 2025 delivered a patchwork of advancements and setbacks in J&K’s healthcare infrastructure.

A few stalled initiatives finally moved, while others linger in limbo as we step into 2026.

AIIMS Kashmir at Awantipora is still no more than a few floors on a few pillars.

On the face value, it appears quite far from being in a position to start operations.

Although it is stated that the civic work is nearly 70 percent complete, the timelines for starting admissions and operations at the ambitious healthcare institute are fluid.

The Bone and Joint Hospital’s new block made operational this year, provided much-needed space for the hundreds of trauma and orthopedic cases at the hospital.

The maternity units in Anantnag and Kangan, plus trauma centres, remained as rudimentary as they have been for years.

Rural and difficult areas continued to endure access gaps.

Much respite is anticipated with the announcements that were made this year: Rs 124.83 crore infusion for CT at GMC Jammu, MRIs for Baramulla, Kathua, and Rajouri GMCs, a Cath Lab in Doda, and Kashmir’s second PET scan.

WORKFORCE WOES WORSE

With over 16,000 vacancies in J&K, 7000 of these in health, every hospital here is strained for staff, and this erodes the quality of healthcare delivery.

Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) operates at 40 percent of the staff that was sanctioned for it decades ago, for a load that is less than half of the present load.

The CHCs in Kashmir don’t have 104 of 220 specialists sanctioned, and there is no sign of these being available anytime soon.

These specialists include surgeons and pediatricians, diverting cases to urban hospitals and adding to the woes of the masses.

In May, 103 remote-area appointments were made, and just last week, 480 medical officer posts were referred to JKPSC.

The dismally poor nurse and paramedic ratios compounded chronic deficits in rural set-ups and in tertiary care, making outcomes of procedures nosedive.

These shortages continued to remain unattended and unaddressed.

The Health Minister termed the issue “a chronic sore” of decades.

SHIFTING DISEASE PATTERNS

J&K’s disease profile continues to be tilted toward NCDs.

Diabetes hit 18.9 percent (urban 26.5 percent), pre-diabetes 10.8 percent, and hypertension 27.1 percent.

Anemia affected 72.7 percent of under-fives.

Heart issues, strokes, and renal failures rose from a sedentary lifestyle.

Cancers rose with tobacco, pollution, and delays, making it worse.

Obesity, a chronic health issue in J&K, is a precursor to many ailments.

Studies have shown that 84 percent of people in Kashmir are inactive, having no physical activity to make their bodies fit.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as fitness ambassador for India, among a few others.

A few walkathons and marathons took place, yet J&K remains unmoved, literally.

MEDICAL EDUCATION EXPANSION

NMC has given a nod for one new college in J&K, but the location remains unclear.

In a year, 379 MBBS and 118 PG for 2025-26 were approved.

CANINE CRISIS

Stray dogs emerged as a rampant threat.

With 2.12 lakh bites since 2022, the threat is an immediate and desperate one.

Humane sterilisation drives have not taken off in a real sense, while Supreme Court directions on controlling and managing the dog population led to a spree of orders, which also created furore.

The post Healing, Hurting: State of health in J&K through 2025 appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The weather in Kashmir is set to change today, bringing a mix of partly cloudy conditions and light precipitation. Weather forecasts predict light rain and snow starting December 30, across most parts of Kashmir.

Moderate snowfall is expected in the higher reaches of North and Central Kashmir around the New Year. Partly cloudy skies will end the week of sunshine, bringing light rain or snow at scattered places from December 30 onwards. Higher reaches are anticipating snowfall, the prospect bringing cheer to business operators at tourist destinations. Moderate to heavy snowfall has is being predicted in the first week of January.

Travellers have been advised to exercise caution, especially in parts of Jammu where heavy fog has been reported. The reduced visibility has been posing challenges for commuters and has caused a few accidents over the past few days.

The minimum temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have already dipped, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 2.6°C.

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