Particle.news
Download on the App Store
52 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Chillai Kalan Begins With Kashmir’s First Major Snow, Road Closures and Flight Disruptions

Forecasters expect additional high-elevation snow over the next 48 hours.

Image
Jammu and Kashmir's annual phenomenon which is constitutes 40 days of severe cold, locally referred to as ‘Chillai Kalan’ has begun with several districts waking up to thick blankets of snow on Sunday.
Image
Image

Overview

  • India’s meteorological authorities issued a yellow alert, flagging moderate to heavy snowfall in higher reaches and light rain in the plains through the current spell.
  • Fresh snow covered Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Sadhna Top and Leh, while Srinagar and other low-lying areas recorded rain after a prolonged dry stretch.
  • The Srinagar–Leh (SSG) highway, Mughal Road and several high passes were shut or suspended, and only light vehicles with anti-skid chains are being allowed toward Gulmarg.
  • Air travel was hit with dozens of cancellations at Srinagar and several at Jammu, and the Vaishno Devi helicopter service reported weather-related disruption.
  • The precipitation eased smog and improved air quality following a severe deficit since November, and the same western disturbance brought the first winter rains to Quetta and parts of Balochistan.