Kashmir Dinbhar

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31/12/2025

New Year Celebrations

Amid surge in tourist arrivals, authorities beef up security in Kashmir

Visitors throng Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg to welcome 2026

Srinagar, Dec 31 (KNO): Authorities have beefed up the security across Kashmir as tourists in large numbers have arrived in the Valley to celebrate the New Year.

According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) popular destinations including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam are full. “Authorities have made the security arrangements stringent to ensure a safe and orderly festive environment. A tight vigil is being maintained at key entry points, including Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir, and at other prominent locations, " said an official.

He said, “Frisking and vehicle inspections have been intensified to ensure public safety."

“Personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police, the CRPF, and other forces have been deployed in strength to ensure that celebrations pass off peacefully,” the official said, adding, “Senior officials reviewed the security scenario at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on late Wednesday evening. They also interacted with tourists and exchanged greetings. They reviewed security arrangements as visitors gathered to welcome the year 2026.”

“All forces are on high alert, crowded areas are being monitored 24x 7,” the official added.

Security personnel have been deployed in large numbers along the Gulmarg–Tangmarg road to ensure public safety and maintain law and order.

“Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonamarg witnessed a heavy rush throughout the day, with visitors enjoying the picturesque landscapes and winter festivities. The smooth crowd management, with checkpoints and patrolling are aimed at ensuring minimal disruption,” said an official.

Adding to the festive mood, the Meteorological Department forecast light to moderate rain and snowfall over most parts of the Valley from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, with moderate to heavy snowfall expected in higher reaches including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and parts of North Kashmir.

Snowfall in the Valley, which had largely been absent in recent New Year periods, is expected to enhance the winter tourism experience.

“Considering the weather predictions and the tourist rush, all agencies, including security forces along the Line of Control in North Kashmir are vigilant. Safety and smooth movement are our top priorities,” said another senior official.

*‘TOURISM SECTOR WITNESSING REVIVAL’*

Meanwhile, Director of Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajad said that the Kashmir’s tourism sector is witnessing a revival, with snowfall and renewed confidence attracting visitors back to the Valley.

He said tourist footfall had returned to near-normal levels after a brief dip earlier this year, providing relief to thousands of families dependent on tourism.

He credited the revival to coordinated efforts by the tourism department, hoteliers, transporters and service providers, along with improved perceptions of safety and stability.

“Fresh snowfall has been decisive in encouraging tourists to travel. The Valley looks festive, and people did not want to miss this moment,” Sajad said.

He invited visitors from the country and abroad to experience Kashmir firsthand, saying, “Every visitor who leaves happy becomes an ambassador for Kashmir.”

Meanwhile, MLA Gulmarg, Farooq Ahmad Shah said that Gulmarg has strong potential to revive Kashmir’s tourism sector, noting the resort’s scenic appeal and arrangements for visitors.

He added that skiing in the area is affordable and hotels have made preparations to welcome tourists.

Shah said the destination plays a vital role in restoring tourism, which faced setbacks earlier this year, and that security and hospitality measures have been implemented ahead of New Year celebrations.

Tourist numbers have surged, with hotels fully booked, signalling growing confidence in the Valley’s winter tourism, he added.

*SP BARAMULLA EXTENDS GREETINGS*

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Baramulla Gurinderpal Singh extended New Year greetings to people, especially people of Baramulla, and urged them to act responsibly.

He urged motorists to drive carefully during adverse weather conditions and said security arrangements have been strengthened to ensure peaceful celebrations.

The SSP said sanitisation and coordinated search operations have been underway for the past one month and security deployment has been doubled compared to routine arrangements.

He said a special verification drive was conducted covering over 4,500 service providers in Gulmarg.

Singh said comprehensive measures are in place for safety, security, traffic management and maintenance of law and order to prevent any untoward incident during New Year festivities—(KNO)

30/12/2025

IMD forecasts snowfall, rain across Kashmir

Upper reaches to receive moderate snow; travellers urged caution

Srinagar, Dec 30 (KNO): A weak Western Disturbance is affecting Jammu and Kashmir, bringing light rain and snowfall to parts of north Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.

The upper reaches, including Gulmarg, Sadhna Top, and Tulail Valley, received light to moderate snowfall, while most other areas remained generally cloudy, an official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast generally cloudy conditions across the region from December 30 to January 10, with intermittent rain or snow expected at several locations.

Light to moderate rain or snow is likely over most places during the night of December 31 to January 1, with higher and extreme upper reaches of north and central Kashmir possibly receiving moderate to heavy snowfall.

From January 2, partly to generally cloudy weather is expected, with isolated light rain or snow over some areas. Partly cloudy skies are likely from January 3–5 and January 7–8, while January 6 may see light snow over isolated higher reaches.

The weather is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy from January 9–10 and partly cloudy from January 11–13, the forecast said.

Minimum temperatures recorded on Tuesday showed widespread cold conditions. Srinagar recorded 1.0°C, Pahalgam -1.2°C, Gulmarg -1.6°C, Kupwara 2.0°C, and Awantipora 1.0°C. In the Jammu region, Jammu recorded 8.6°C, Katra 9.8°C, Bhaderwah 3.8°C, and Kishtwar -1.5°C.

In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum of -8.4°C, Kargil -7.9°C, and Nubra Valley -4.2°C, indicating the continuation of severe cold wave conditions.

Officials advised travellers to exercise caution due to icy roads in high-altitude areas and reduced visibility in fog-prone regions.

Authorities have urged the public to carry adequate winter gear and remain alert for sudden weather changes, particularly in the upper reaches prone to snowfall.

Residents and tourists were advised to stay updated on the local weather alerts as the region prepares for New Year's festivities under cold and wet conditions—(KNO)

29/12/2025

Year Ender: J&K Tourism continues to thrive with over 1.58 crore visitors in 2025

Kashmir Valley logs 10.47 lakh domestic, 21,361 foreign tourists; Jammu draws 1.47 crore pilgrims, visitors

Srinagar, Dec 29 (KNO): 2025 has been a mixed year for Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector, with overall footfall remaining high with strong domestic and foreign numbers, despite security-related disruptions and seasonal fluctuations.

As per the details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), tourist arrivals to the Jammu and Kashmir crossed the one crore fifty-eight lakh visitors mark, driven by robust pilgrimage, leisure and adventure travel, with the officials acknowledged that the footfall have remained “very strong”, though marginally lower than the all-time high of around 2.36 crore tourist visits reported in 2024, which included about 65,000 foreign tourists.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told Parliament earlier this year that the Union Territory had recorded 2.35 crore domestic tourists and 65,452 foreign tourists in 2024, while during January–June 2025, J&K received 95.9 lakh domestic tourists and 19,570 foreign tourists, pointing to an early-season slowdown compared to the previous year.

As per details, the Kashmir region welcomed over 10.47 lakh domestic and 21,361 foreign tourists during 2025, with about 10.68 lakh total visitors recorded across the year, reflecting a stable but not record-breaking season.

Month-wise data shows that the Valley hosted around 1.48 lakh domestic and 3,385 foreign tourists in January, 1.43 lakh domestic and 4,116 foreign in February, and 1.74 lakh domestic and 2,006 foreign tourists in March, with April registering about 1.75 lakh domestic and 4,145 foreign arrivals, before numbers fluctuated in subsequent months following security incidents and travel advisories.

May saw a sharp decline with 18,246 domestic tourists and 607 international visitors. June recorded 57,458 domestic tourists and 844 foreign arrivals. July saw 98,424 domestic tourists and 1,172 foreign visitors. August recorded 62,430 domestic tourists and 1,399 international arrivals.

September saw 31,878 domestic tourists and 1,302 foreign visitors. October recorded 58,853 domestic tourists and 1,017 international arrivals. November saw 55,904 domestic tourists and 849 foreign visitors. December, till the 15th, recorded 22,829 domestic tourists and 519 international visitors.

In the Jammu region, the data states that more than 1.47 crore tourists visited in 2025, including roughly 12,000 international visitors, with the bulk of the footfall driven by pilgrimages to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Shiv Khori and other religious destinations.

A total of 14,732,552 tourists, including 12,889 foreigners, visited the Jammu region up to December 26, 2025, the data available revealed. Around 6,368,233 tourists visited the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, it states.

Religious circuits such as the Amarnath Yatra and Vaishno Devi continue to anchor J&K’s tourism economy, with planners noting that pilgrim inflows, clubbed with leisure and adventure tourism in destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam, remain critical to sustaining overall numbers and allied sectors such as transport, hospitality and handicrafts.

Officials acknowledged that while the first quarter of 2025 showed strong tourist momentum. However, security-related incidents, including an attack in Pahalgam, triggered cancellations and bookings slowdown, leading to a decline compared to last year’s record inflow, even as the UT still clocked over 95.9 lakh domestic visits and nearly 20,000 foreign visits in just the first half of the year.

The government has, however, projected confidence in the sector’s resilience, highlighting continued infrastructure expansion, promotion campaigns, and niche offerings in adventure, eco and rural tourism, while stakeholders have urged for sustained security, stable travel advisories and targeted support to small tourism operators hit by mid-season shocks.

It is noteworthy that Jammu and Kashmir registered over 2.36 crore visitors, with 2,30,12,707 domestic visitors and 65,452 foreign tourist visits in 2024, taking the total footfall to 2,30,78,159.

Following the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, authorities ordered the closure of 48 out of 87 tourist destinations across the Valley on April 29, citing heightened security threats from sleeper cells and potential copycat strikes.

Vulnerable spots, including trekking routes, meadows, and offbeat areas like Drang, Doodhpathri, Aru Valley, higher Gulmarg reaches, Yanner Rafting Point, Akkad Park, and Padshahi Park, were shut indefinitely, with gates locked and access restricted by checkpoints.

However, major hubs like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Dal Lake and Pahalgam town stayed open, while phased reopenings began in June, with 7-12 spots like Bijbehara Garden and Dagan Top unlocked by September for festivals, though Baisaran remained closed.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself repeatedly advocated for aggressive tourism promotion following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

The chief minister also held a Cabinet meeting in Pahalgam on May 26, 2025—the first since the attack, calling tourism a "conflict-neutral" lifeline for thousands of families and praising locals' resilience against fear, while on July 9 in Kolkata, he noted tourism "bouncing back" with Amarnath Yatra underway, increased flights and safety steps implemented, assuring, "Listen to those who returned from Pahalgam recently."

Notably, the 17th Annual Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) Convention, led by President Ajeet Bajaj, took place in Srinagar from December 17-20, 2025, marking a major push for Kashmir's adventure tourism revival post-Pahalgam attack.

ATOAI President Ajeet Bajaj positioned Kashmir as India's "adventure capital," urging partnerships with local operators and the Ministry of Tourism to accelerate revival through safety protocols, trained guides and sustainable trails like proposed Himalayan routes—(KNO)

29/12/2025

MeT predicts snowfall across J&K till Jan 1

Upper reaches to witness heavy snowfall, Zojila and other high-altitude areas under advisory, flights may get affected; tourists arrive to celebrate New Year

Srinagar, Dec 29 (KNO): Light to moderate snowfall is likely at many places across Jammu and Kashmir from Tuesday, with higher reaches of the Union Territory expected to receive fresh snow till January 1, the Meteorological Department said on Monday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said weather conditions would remain generally cloudy on December 30, with the possibility of light rain or snowfall at several places towards the evening.

"From December 31 to January 1, light rain or snow is likely at most places, while a few higher reaches of North and Central Kashmir may receive moderate snowfall," it said.

According to the forecast, snowfall activity is also expected to be more pronounced along the Zojila–Drass axis and over the Siachen area.

"Light to moderate snowfall is also likely in parts of the Kargil and Zanskar regions, as well as higher reaches of Leh district," it said.

The IMD said snowfall accumulation of up to 10 inches is possible at Zojila during this period.

Meanwhile, according to officials, snowfall has begun in the higher reaches of the Kashmir, including Razdan Top and Zojila, and was continuing in these areas at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, tourists in good numbers have reached winter destinations across Kashmir to celebrate the New Year, amid forecasts of peak snowfall, which was largely absent in the region during the same period last year.

A weather advisory issued by MeT warned of a high risk of temporary disruption of surface transport over the Zojila pass due to heavy snowfall on December 31.

Authorities have also cautioned that flight cancellations are likely during the December 31–January 1 period, depending on prevailing weather conditions.

The weather is expected to remain cold and cloudy during the peak snowfall period. Improvement is likely from the afternoon of January 1, with no major weather activity expected thereafter till January 12, the IMD said.

Meanwhile, the latest weather data displayed below-normal minimum temperatures at several places in the Kashmir Valley.

Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded minus 5.2 degrees Celsius and minus 5.9 degrees Celsius respectively.

Furthermore, the day temperatures remained above normal at most places.

Authorities have advised commuters, tourists and transport operators to stay updated with weather advisories and plan travel accordingly, particularly along high-altitude passes connecting Kashmir with Ladakh.

The administration has asked concerned departments to remain alert in view of the forecast and ensure preparedness for any weather-related disruptions.

*FRESH WESTERN DISTURBANCE TO HIT J&K*

Meanwhile, an independent weather forecaster, Kashmir Weather’s Faizan Arif, said a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir from December 30, bringing light to moderate snowfall mainly over the Kashmir Valley.

He said snowfall activity is expected to peak between the afternoon of December 30 and the morning of December 31.

Arif added that while snowfall over the plains remains uncertain, a slight chance cannot be ruled out if precipitation continues during the night.

He said mostly cloudy conditions with light to moderate rain or snow are likely on December 31 and January 1, followed by a return to dry weather from January 2 to January 5.

Meanwhile, the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari roads remain closed due to fresh snow accumulation—(KNO)

26/12/2025

Minimum temperatures rise in J&K, Ladakh

Light snow, scattered rain expected next week

Srinagar, Dec 26 (KNO): Minimum temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh rose on Friday compared to Thursday, offering slight relief from cold wave conditions.

According to the details collected by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) in Kashmir region, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2°C, up from minus 2.2°C on Thursday, Qazigund also settled at 0.2°C, rising from minus 1.8°C, while Pahalgam improved to minus 1.6°C from minus 4.4°C.

Gulmarg recorded minus 4.5°C, compared to minus 5.4°C the previous night. Srinagar Airport registered minus 1.2°C, higher than Thursday’s minus 3.4°C.

Pulwama recorded minus 3.4°C, up from minus 3.8°C. Sonamarg, which was the coldest on Thursday at minus 7.3°C, rose to minus 4.7°C.

In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a temperature of 10.0°C, up from 8.1°C, and Jammu Airport 10.2°C, compared to 7.3°C on Thursday.

Banihal was at 3.8°C against 4.8°C, Batote 6.1°C against 4.7°C, and Bhaderwah improved to 2.6°C from minus 0.3°C. Ramban recorded 0.1°C, down from 4.2°C.

In Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 9.8°C, slightly higher than minus 10.2°C on Thursday. Kargil was minus 9.3°C, up from minus 9.8°C, while Nubra Valley recorded minus 6.7°C, warmer than minus 8.3°C the previous night.

Weather experts said sub-zero nights are likely to continue in higher reaches despite the marginal rise in temperatures.

A spell of light snow is expected in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, accompanied by light rain at scattered to many places across the region on December 31 and January1, after that weather is likely to improve gradually—(KNO)

26/12/2025

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq drops Hurriyat chairman title from X profile

Srinagar, Dec 26 (KNO): In a significant development, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir, quietly removed the title “Chairman, All Parties Hurriyat Conference” from his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday evening.

The removal of the title from Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s X bio was revealed through social media chatter last evening.

In a post shared on Friday morning, Mirwaiz, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), revealed that he had been facing pressure from authorities to make changes to his social media profile, as all constituent factions of the Hurriyat Conference, including the Awami Action Committee (AAC) that he heads, have been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

“For some time now, I was being pressed by the authorities to make changes to my X (formerly Twitter) handle as Hurriyat chairman, since all constituent factions of the Hurriyat Conference, including the Awami Action Committee that I head, have been banned under the UAPA, making Hurriyat a banned organisation. Failing which, they threatened to take down my handle,” the tweet reads.

He said the X platform remains among the very few means available to him to reach out to his people.

“At a time when public space and avenues of communication stand severely restricted, this platform remains among the very few means available to me to reach out to my people and share my views on our issues with them and with the outside world. Under such circumstances, it was a Hobson’s choice I was left to make,” he said.

Mirwaiz’s move reflects the decline in the influence of separatists in Kashmir, who were once calling the shots and dictating politics in the region—(KNO)

25/12/2025

*Unidentified Man Found Dead Near LD Hospital in Srinagar*

Srinagar, Dec 25 (KNO): An unidentified man was found lying unconscious on the roadside near LD Hospital in Srinagar on Thursday morning and was later declared dead at the hospital, officials said.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a police team brought the man, believed to be around 45 years old, to SMHS Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

“As per initial reports, the deceased was found lying on the roadside near LD Hospital,” the official said, adding that his identity and the cause of death are being ascertained.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the matter— (KNO)

24/12/2025

Traffic moves slowly on Jammu-Srinagar Highway, other roads remain closed

Srinagar, Dec 24 (KNO): Traffic moved slowly on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Wednesday due to single-lane traffic and the breakdown of two heavy motor vehicles (HMVs).

An official while sharing the details with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, "Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and passenger vehicles have been advised to travel on NH-44 during the day and avoid night journeys, particularly between Nashri Tunnel and Navyug Tunnel, where HMV movement may cause delays."

He urged the drivers to maintain strict lane discipline and warned that overtaking or wrong-lane driving can lead to congestion.

The official said, “Subject to fair weather and road conditions, LMVs, passenger vehicles, private cars, and HMVs (good carrier) will be allowed to move in both directions on NH-44 on Thursday."

Meanwhile, Traffic Control Units (TCUs) in Jammu and Srinagar have been asked to coordinate with TCU Ramban regarding road conditions and Security forces convoys have been advised to move on the NH-44 only after confirmation of road status.

According to the officials the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag NH-244 remains closed due to snow accumulation while vehicles on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari (SSG) Road, will be allowed to move in a regulated manner after getting a green signal from BRO. “LMVs and HMVs (up to six tyres) with anti-skid chains will be permitted from Minamarg towards Srinagar between 8 AM and 11:30 AM, and from Sonamarg towards Kargil between 1 PM and 4 PM,” the official said, adding, “Similarly, on Mughal Road, LMVs and private cars with anti-skid chains will be allowed from Behramgala towards Shopian and Herpora-Shopian towards Poonch between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM, subject to fair weather and road clearance from GREF. Vehicles will not be allowed after the cutoff timings. Security forces convoys will coordinate their movement to avoid disrupting civil traffic.”

Commuters have been urged to confirm road conditions before travel from the following Traffic Control Units: Jammu (0191-2459048, 0191-2740550, 9419147732, 103), Srinagar (0194-2450022, 2485396, 18001807091, 103), Ramban (9419993745, 1800-180-7043), Udhampur (8491928625), PCR Kishtwar (9906154100), and PCR Kargil (9541902330, 9541902331)—(KNO)

24/12/2025

Cold conditions prevail in J&K, snow chances loom over next week

Western disturbance likely in December-end

Srinagar, Dec 24 (KNO): Cold conditions continued to prevail across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday as maximum temperatures in many parts of the Kashmir division remained 0–2 degrees Celsius below normal. Several areas of the Jammu division recorded day temperatures 1–3 degrees above normal, officials said.

Night temperatures, however, stayed above normal by 4–5 degrees at many places in Kashmir and by 2–4 degrees at several locations in Jammu.

Gulmarg was the coldest place in the Valley with a minimum temperature of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while Bhaderwah recorded the lowest night temperature in the Jammu division at 0.6 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said.

The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast partly cloudy weather across Jammu and Kashmir from December 24 to 28, with generally cloudy conditions and the possibility of light snowfall at isolated higher reaches on December 29.

Officials said that from December 30 to January 1, the region is likely to witness generally cloudy weather with chances of light rain over the plains and light snowfall over higher areas at scattered places.

The weather is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy from January 2 to 5.

Meanwhile, travellers and transporters have been advised to follow traffic and administrative advisories, while moderate to dense fog is likely to affect the plains of the Jammu division during the next four days, the officials added.

Another weather forecaster said that J&K is likely to witness mostly dry and cold conditions till December 29, with a western disturbance expected to affect the region between December 30 and January 2, bringing widespread rain and snowfall.

The forecaster said that, as per current indications, the season’s first snowfall is also possible over the plains of Kashmir, including Srinagar city.

He added that forecast clarity is expected to improve in the coming days as weather model signals become more consistent and reliable—(KNO)

22/12/2025

Wet weather improved air quality, further precipitation expected, partly cloudy conditions forecast till Dec 29

Srinagar, Dec 22 (KNO): Cold conditions across Jammu and Kashmir showed some improvement on Monday following fresh snowfall in higher reaches and rainfall in the plains, which affected large parts of the region, even as the Meteorological Department has forecast further precipitation during the next 12 hours.

Popular hill stations and tourist destinations, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam, received fresh snowfall ranging between about five and 18 inches, as per reports obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

The snowfall was keenly awaited by skiers, Christmas and New Year revellers, and stakeholders associated with the tourism sector.

Although cold conditions showed some improvement, minimum temperatures across the region remained below normal, with several towns in the Kashmir Valley recording sub-zero readings.

South Kashmir’s Pulwama district recorded the coldest minimum at -3.2°C, followed by Shopian at -2.9°C and Awantipora at -2.2°C.

Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district registered -0.4°C, Qazigund and Pahalgam -1.0°C each, while Gulmarg and Kulgam recorded 2.0°C and 1.2°C respectively.

In Jammu division, Katra recorded the lowest at 10.0°C, Jammu Airport 11.0°C, while Banihal and Bhaderwah registered 3.8°C and 4.4°C, respectively.

In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum of -4.2°C. Some stations, including Zojila Pass, Kargil, Doda, and Zethan Rafiabad, did not report data. The figures were compiled by Kashmir Weather.

The Meteorological Department has forecast further precipitation during the next 12 hours till Monday night. From December 23 onwards, the weather across Jammu and Kashmir is expected to remain partly cloudy until December 29.

It has forecast the possibility of light rain or snowfall over higher reaches at isolated places from December 30 to January 1, while January 2 and 3 are likely to be partly cloudy.

It advised travellers and transporters to follow traffic and administrative advisories. Moderate to dense fog is expected to persist over the plains of Jammu division during the next seven days.

Meanwhile, the rainfall and snowfall had a positive impact on air quality across the Valley. The Meteorological Department said the Air Quality Index (AQI) showed significant improvement following the rain.

“There has been a clear improvement in air quality due to the rainfall. After this spell, the weather is expected to remain dry and cold from December 23 to December 30,” another official said.

An advisory issued by the department warned that higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts could receive moderate to heavy snowfall, especially during the night.

Travellers and transporters were advised to plan their journeys carefully and follow official advisories—(KNO)

21/12/2025

*Rain, snowfall mark beginning of Chillai-I-Kalan in Kashmir, prolonged dry spell ends*
Mughal, Gurez, Srinagar-Sonamarg roads closed; Vehicles plying on Tangmarg-Gulmarg road asked to use anti-skid chains

Gulmarg, Dec 21 (KNO): The rain and snowfall on Sunday marked the begging of the 40-day harshest winter period - Chillai-I-Kalan - and ending the prolonged dry spell in the Kashmir Valley. The higher reaches in the Valley received moderate to heavy snowfall, while plains witnessed moderate rainfall, with night temperature showing a slight improvement, officials said.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the snowfall brought cheer to locals and tourists as it ended months long dry spell in the Kashmir Valley.

He said that following the snowfall in the higher reached, the Mughal Road, connecting Shopian in Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu, was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. “Several other key routes, including the Srinagar–Sonamarg–Gumri (SSG) Road, Sinthan Road and the Bandipora–Gurez road were also shut”.

He said that famous tourist ski-resort Gulmarg recorded over three inches of snowfall overnight, bringing cheers to locals and tourists who have been awaiting snowfall since long.

Meanwhile, authorities enforced traffic restrictions on the Tangmarg–Gulmarg road to ensure public safety with drivers and vehicle owners asked to use anti-skid chains in view of the slippery road condition.

The weather office has predicted generally cloudy conditions across J&K, with light rain in the plains and snowfall over higher reaches during the next 48 hours, followed by partly to generally cloudy weather for the rest of the week—(KNO)

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