"Winter Chaos in Himachal Pradesh: 5,000 Tourists Rescued as Kullu Battles Snow and Srinagar Welcomes First Snowfall!"

Traffic disruptions occurred on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, resulting in approximately 2,000 vehicles being stuck.

On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir along with Himachal Pradesh experienced significant snowfall, resulting in traffic disruptions across various regions. The first snow of the season in Srinagar, which commenced on December 27, saw vehicles navigating the streets as the local population began to adapt to the wintry conditions.

This weather phenomenon was primarily influenced by a western disturbance, which led to light to moderate snowfall encompassing most areas of Kashmir, including the plain regions. The snow initially began to accumulate in the higher altitudes during the morning, while the plains, notably Srinagar, saw snowfall later in the day. Official reports indicated that a total of three inches of snow was recorded within the city limits.

Furthermore, the season’s inaugural snowfall was also noted in the low-lying regions of Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama districts. Renowned tourist destinations such as Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam were also blanketed in snow, alongside various locations in Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts.

As the snowfall escalated, the Srinagar-Leh Highway and the Mughal Road faced closures, with the Srinagar-Jammu national highway also being heavily impacted, leaving approximately 2,000 vehicles stuck in the process. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reported that efforts were being made to clear the snow and restore normalcy on the roads.

According to Abdullah's updates on social media, his recent journey from Jammu to Srinagar experienced continuous snowfall from Banihal to Srinagar, creating perilous driving conditions. He noted that around 2,000 vehicles were stranded between the tunnel and Qazigund and acknowledged the ongoing assistance provided by his office to local authorities in South Kashmir. While snow clearance operations were in motion, he pointed out that the roads remained icy and heavy vehicles were being prioritized for movement.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that an improvement in weather conditions is expected from Saturday morning onwards, which may alleviate some of the challenges posed by the recent snowfall.

In Himachal Pradesh, a substantial rescue operation was conducted to assist 5,000 tourists who found themselves stranded at the Solang Nala ski resort in Kullu due to the heavy snowfall. Kullu police launched a rescue mission on December 27 after around 1,000 vehicles became immobilized in the area.

The Kullu police reported that following fresh snowfall on December 27, many tourists and their vehicles were trapped in Solang Nala. A total of about 5,000 tourists were reportedly affected, with rescue operations being carried out to ensure their safe relocation. Authorities confirmed that efforts were ongoing to safely transport all stranded individuals to secure locations.

Heavy snowfall and rain were recorded across at least six districts of Himachal Pradesh on the same day, including areas like Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, and Kinnaur. The IMD issued an orange alert for both snowfall and cold wave conditions for the dates of December 27 and 28, urging residents and travelers to exercise caution and take necessary precautions due to anticipated road blockages and other disruptions caused by the wintry weather.