- By Priyanka Koul
- Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kashmir Snowfall: Amidst heavy snowfall blanketing the Kashmir Valley, traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was fully restored on Wednesday, just a day after the highway had been closed due to the intense snowfall and hazardous road conditions.
Heavy motor vehicles, including trucks, were allowed to travel along the 270-km highway, which remains the only all-weather road link connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country.
With the road cleared of snow, the highway was reopened in full, with traffic now permitted in both directions.
Earlier on Wednesday, only light motor vehicles had been allowed, as the snowfall had caused significant accumulation on the road.
To combat icy conditions on the road, personnel from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had applied salt and urea to improve road safety.
The reopening of the highway brought much-needed relief to those stranded in the Valley, particularly tourists, after the road had been closed due to the heavy snowfall.
(A traffic police official regulates vehicles as traffic remains suspended on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) following fresh snowfall, in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir - PTI Image)
In the midst of the weather chaos, a tragic landslide in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of dozens of livestock, including sheep and goats. The landslide struck near the Hasti bridge while shepherds were crossing with their animals. Several animals were buried under the debris, but fortunately, the shepherds escaped without harm.
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The night temperature in most parts of Kashmir dropped well below freezing on Tuesday. However, Srinagar recorded a relatively mild temperature of -0.1 degrees C, just above the usual seasonal average.
The Kashmir Valley is nearing the conclusion of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, a 40-day period of extreme cold when temperatures often dip several degrees below freezing, and snowfall is most frequent. ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, which began on 21 December, will end on 30 January.