Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir – A Magical Sight Unfolds as Snow Blankets the City
After enduring a prolonged dry spell, the residents of Srinagar were greeted with a picturesque scene on Thursday as the season’s first snowfall draped the city in a shimmering white coat. Beyond being a mere meteorological event, the snowfall became a poignant reminder for the people of Srinagar of the inherent beauty embedded in the changing of seasons. Laughter of children echoed through narrow alleys as they embraced the newfound playground bestowed upon them by nature.
Not confined to the city alone, all district headquarters of the Valley experienced the season’s inaugural snowfall, with higher reaches witnessing a moderate snowfall, according to reports.
The conclusion of the 40-day-long period of intense winter cold, locally known as ‘Chillai Kalan,’ on January 29 left the plains without their signature winter charm, leaving locals yearning for the distinctive beauty brought by snowfall.
While winter and snowfall pose challenges for the people of the Valley, they serve as a boon for tourism. Popular health resorts like Gulmarg and Pahalgam draw tourists in large numbers with the allure of snow-covered landscapes.
In a breathtaking display of the winter spectacle, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of a train passing through the snow-clad scenery of Kashmir, writing, “कश्मीर की वादियों में स्नोफॉल!” – a testament to the captivating beauty of Kashmir’s snowfall.
Ahmad Mukhtar, local Meteorological office, forecasted mostly dry weather with the possibility of very light snow at isolated higher reaches. He mentioned a likelihood of light to moderate rain/snowfall at various places in Jammu & Kashmir on Saturday.
However, the J&K Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) has issued a low danger level avalanche warning at 2800 and 3500 meters above sea level in the higher reaches of Doda district in Jammu and Ganderbal in Kashmir. A medium danger level avalanche is anticipated above 2400 meters over Poonch in Jammu and Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara districts of Kashmir. Residents in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas until further notice.
