Heavy snowfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir on Friday caused widespread disruption, stranding thousands of tourists and vehicles. Rescue operations and snow clearance efforts are underway as authorities work to restore normalcy.
In Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, approximately 5,000 tourists were rescued from Solang Nala, a popular ski resort. The rescue operation, led by the Himachal Pradesh Police, began after around 1,000 vehicles were stranded due to fresh snowfall. Kullu Police stated in a post on X, “The vehicles and tourists have been rescued and taken to safe places. The rescue operation is still ongoing.”
Heavy snowfall was recorded in at least six districts of Himachal Pradesh, including Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, and Kinnaur. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for December 27 and 28, warning of snowfall, cold waves, and potential disruptions. Residents and travelers have been advised to exercise caution in snow-affected areas.
Meanwhile, in Jammu & Kashmir, the season’s first snowfall brought picturesque scenes but also major challenges. Srinagar recorded three inches of snow, with similar conditions reported in Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama districts. Popular tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam also received heavy snowfall, along with areas like Gurez, Zojila axis, Sadhna Top, Mughal Road, and the Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora districts.
The snowfall led to the closure of the Srinagar-Leh Highway and the Mughal Road, while traffic was severely affected on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, leaving around 2,000 vehicles stranded. Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shared his experience on X after driving from Jammu to Srinagar amidst continuous snowfall. “The conditions were treacherous… Heavy vehicles are being allowed to move, and efforts are on to clear the rest of the stranded vehicles,” Abdullah wrote, adding that snow clearance efforts were underway.
The IMD has forecasted an improvement in weather conditions starting Saturday forenoon, bringing some relief to the affected regions.
Sources By Agencies
