Kashmir winter chaos: Kashmiris bear brunt of snowfall, more snow predicted |
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has once again been caught off-guard by the predictable arrival of winter, leaving the Valley in a state of near-total paralysis. The failure of the regional power grid, which saw electricity generation plummet from 1650 MW to a staggering 93 MW, alongside the complete closure of some important road links, has exposed the chronic lack of infrastructure preparedness.
Despite claims of readiness, authorities were forced into an emergency rescue of over tourists, patients who became trapped on unmanaged, icy roads, highlighting a systemic failure to maintain the region’s only lifelines during inclement weather. The rural population in the valley expressed resentment over the lack of basic facilities.
Highways and runways shut down
The heavy snowfall turned the Valley into an isolated island. The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, the region’s sole all-weather connection to the rest of the country, remained closed due to extreme slipperiness and heavy snow accumulation. Similarly, the Mughal Road highway is impassable.
The disruption extended to the skies, where flight operations at Srinagar Airport were completely suspended on Friday. The air traffic was restored on Saturday after remaining suspended for a day due to heavy snowfall.
Poor visibility and snow-clogged runways forced the cancellation of all scheduled flights, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded without clear alternatives.
The power outage and rescue operations
Before the first snowflake even settled, gusty winds on Thursday night ravaged the local power infrastructure, uprooting trees that crushed vehicles and snapped power lines. While officials claim that 80% of the........