Kashmir to Himachal: Heavy Snowfall Blankets Mountains, Delights Tourists

• Heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir disrupted daily life, closing Srinagar International Airport and major highways like Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and Mughal Road.
• Gulmarg received over 50 cm of snow, with temperatures dropping to minus 12 degrees Celsius, causing severe cold in the Kashmir Valley.
• Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, experienced its first winter snowfall, attracting tourists to Kufri and Narkanda, who enjoyed taking photos in the snow.
• Over 500 roads were closed in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in Kinnaur district and parts of Shimla, with PWD deploying 264 machines for snow removal.
• The snowfall, after a three-month dry spell, is expected to benefit farmers, apple growers, and summer water sources, despite warnings of further temperature drops.

Why It Matters: Heavy snowfall across Kashmir and Himachal brings both disruption and delight, benefiting agriculture.