Subhechcha Ganguly 
Jammu and Kashmir witnessed significant snowfall on Friday morning, February 28, causing widespread traffic disruptions and road closures. The Srinagar-Jammu national highway was blocked near Qazigund and Banihal due to heavy snow accumulation, while landslides were reported along the stretch between Banihal and Ramban. The Srinagar-Ladakh highway was also closed at Zojila Pass. The snowfall buried highways and mountain areas under thick layers of snow, and the Border Roads Organisation worked to clear the runway at Srinagar airport, while snow clearance was underway in Pahalgam. The meteorological department predicts that the extreme weather conditions will improve by the afternoon.
Despite the disruption, some locals in Jammu and Kashmir embraced the snow, with farmers expressing unexpected relief. Typically a concern for farmers, the fresh snowfall was welcomed this time due to the long dry spell in the region. Meanwhile, heavy snowfall also affected the Lahaul and Spiti regions in Himachal Pradesh, prompting local authorities to issue an avalanche alert. The snowfall in these areas has further complicated the region’s weather conditions.
