Kashmir has officially entered its harshest winter period, Chillai Kalan, marked by widespread light snowfall across the valley on Sunday. The season's first major snow transformed the region into a picturesque winter landscape, particularly enchanting the popular tourist destination of Gulmarg.
A Winter Wonderland Emerges
As Chillai Kalan set in, breathtaking videos from across Kashmir, especially Gulmarg, began circulating on social media, showcasing the valley draped in a fresh blanket of white. The popular tourist spot in North Kashmir's Baramulla district recorded approximately two inches of snowfall, creating stunning vistas that quickly went viral online. Snowfall was also reported in other higher reaches including Sonamarg, Gurez, Drass, and Kargil.
Travel and Transportation Disrupted
The snowfall led to significant travel disruptions. Key routes like the Srinagar-Leh highway (Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road) and the historic Mughal Road were closed for traffic due to accumulation of snow and safety concerns. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has initiated snow clearance operations on affected roads. Air travel was also impacted, with multiple flights at Srinagar International Airport facing cancellations.
Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, informed that the weather system is weakening. "The system is weakening and there is a possibility that the intensity of rain and snow will gradually come down," he stated. He added that there remains a possibility of snowfall in some plains of north Kashmir as well. Officials have indicated that the weather is likely to improve after Sunday night.
Social Media Flooded with Scenic Clips
The internet was flooded with captivating clips from netizens and weather handles capturing the serene beauty of the snowfall. Videos from Gulmarg showed heavy snow accumulating, with some reports suggesting up to 4-5 inches in certain areas. The visual documentation from Poonch, Sonamarg, and other parts highlighted the extensive reach of this winter spell, turning the entire northern belt into a mesmerizing winter wonderland and marking the definitive arrival of the 40-day Chillai Kalan period.
