SMVD shrine, Patnitop receive fresh snowfall
Jammu-Sgr NH, many roads
closed; 3000 vehicles stranded
Over 60 people rescued, 30 goats killed
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 23: Heavy rain across Jammu region and moderate to heavy snowfall in many hilly areas of the region today disrupted normal life as about 60 people were rescued, five flights were cancelled, while Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and many other roads were closed in the region due to snowfall and multiple landslides.
Moderate to heavy snowfall was experienced in high-altitude areas of Jammu region including the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, tourist destinations of Patnitop, Sanasar, Bhaderwah, Pancheri, Latti, Dudu-Basantgarh, besides Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban-Banihal, Gool-Mahore, Doda-Kishtwar and Bani Sub Division of Kathua district in Jammu region, leading to the suspension of traffic on key roads and disruption of air and rail services.
Officials said that due to snowfall and bad weather conditions, the train service between Katra- Reasi- Banihal section of the region and ahead in Valley, was suspended today while more than 3000 vehicles were stranded between Jammu and Srinagar including Udhampur and Dhar road due to closure of National Highway since late last evening.
Batote-Kishtwar highway, Mughal Road connecting Poonch-Rajouri with Kashmir besides Reasi-Mahore-Budhal, Mahore- Gool-Ramban, Udhampur-Ramnagar–Basantgarh and Chenani-Latti – Dudu-roads were also blocked due to snowfall and landslides. Kishtwar-Sinthan-Kukernag, Kishtwar -Paddar, Doda-Bhaderwah-Bani-Pathankote highway were also blocked due to heavy snowfall in Chenab valley.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The traffic on Jammu-Poonch highway also remained suspended for 3-4 hours during morning due to snopwfall and slippery road conditions at Bhimber Gali. The GREF authorities cleared the snow during mid day and restored traffic. Rajouri-Thannamandi-Dera- Gali-Bafliaz-Surankote road besides Mandi-Loran, Mandi-Sawjian and Poonch- Mendhar roads also remained closed today in view of snowfall.
More than 60 stranded persons were rescued from snowbound areas in Poonch and Udhampur districts, while moderate rains lashed the plains, including Jammu city, bringing an end to a dry spell that had lasted for over two months. Over 47 people were reportedly rescued from BG and Dera Gali areas of Rajouri and Poonch besides Banihal and Gool areas by the Army and police.
Click here to watch video
Amid inclement weather conditions, Udhampur Police conducted a timely rescue operation and saved 12 persons, including women and children, who were stranded in a heavy snowstorm at Chochru Galla in the Basantgarh area.
Information regarding the stranded persons was received at Police Post Sang, following which a police team led by Head Constable Mushtaq Ahmed Incharge Police Post Sang under the supervision of DySP PC Basantgarh Charanjeet Singh and SHO Police Station Basantgarh PSI Rohin Chalotra was immediately mobilized. The team trekked several kilometres through snow-covered and foggy terrain to reach the spot.
All the 12 stranded persons were safely rescued and brought to Police Post Sang, where they were provided with food, shelter and necessary medical assistance.
Report from Reasi said that a Kutcha house and cattle-shed of Ramail Singh collapsed due to heavy rain in Balmatkote area of Chassana in Mahore area in which his 30 goats/sheep were killed.
Reports of windstorm amid rain was also reported from Pir Panjal and erstwhile Doda district, besides some plain areas of Jammu region. A MeT official said that 70-80 km/hr winds were reported from Poonch and Chenab valley while over 45-40 kms/hr in Jammu areas. Many tin- roofs were uprooted in Pir Panjal and some areas of Ramban and Doda. In Dessa area of Doda a school building and dozens of houses were damaged. However, there were no reports of much damage except Poonch, Loran and Surankote areas.
The power supply remained badly hit since last night in many areas of Jammu region including winter capital Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Kathua and hilly areas. In some of the areas it was restored in the afternoon.
As predicted by the Meteorological department, it started snowing in most high-altitude areas late Thursday evening, preceded by gusty winds, while intermittent rains lashed the plains, including Jammu city, throughout the night.
Intermittent snowfall continued in the upper reaches of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua districts. Snowfall ranging from a few inches to over two feet accumulated in some areas.
The higher reaches had recorded snowfall in the last week of December. The fresh precipitation brought relief to the people, especially farmers and tourism stakeholders, ending the dry-spell in the region.
A police official said that over three dozen people, stranded at Totagali in Mendhar area of Poonch district, were rescued despite adverse weather conditions, ensuring their safety and comfort. Another two dozen passengers who were stranded due to heavy snowfall in the Krishna Ghati area were also safely evacuated, he said.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said, “Season’s first snowfall at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan (atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district). Devotees were blessed to witness breathtaking weather as fresh snow gently adorned the holy surroundings of Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan and Bhairon Temple, filling the atmosphere with serenity, devotion, and divine bliss”.
The yatra was temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure from both the Tarakote and Banganga tracks, but it has now been restored.
A senior Traffic Police official said that vehicular movement on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was suspended following fresh snowfall. He said over 1200 vehicles have been stranded in Nashri, Ramban, Ramsu and Banihal areas.
“Traffic movement has been stopped in both directions — from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice versa on Jammu Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) due to fresh snowfall in and around the Navyug Tunnel (in Banihal-Qazigund stretch),” the official said.
“Due to heavy snowfall, only one train each was operated from Sangaldan and Banihal towards Srinagar, while no train could be run from Kashmir towards Banihal as large portions of the railway track remained covered with snow,” Station Master Banihal, Abdul Baseer said.
Railway authorities are closely monitoring weather conditions and tracking clearance operations. Services will be restored once conditions improve, he said.
An Airport official said that five flights were suspended this morning while several others got delayed at Jammu airport due to inclement weather, the officials said. A total of 32 flights are scheduled to operate to and from the airport during the day.
The official said the authorities have ordered the closure of all schools in the hilly districts of Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua districts as a precautionary measure in view of the snowfall.
Police have also established dedicated helpline numbers at all district headquarters, they said.
Meanwhile, BSF rescheduled its recruitment drive at its Jammu headquarters from January 24 to February 6 due to waterlogging caused by rainfall.
“Due to continuous heavy rainfall, water-logging has occurred in and around the BSF Jammu Paloura Camp, affecting the stadium and track. In view of this, the PST/PET (through RFID) for the recruitment of CT/TM in BSF, scheduled to be held on January 24, 2026, has been postponed. The revised date for the examination has now been fixed as February 6, 2026,” a BSF spokesperson said.
The famous hill resorts of Jammu province-Patnitop, Nathatop, Sanasar, Bhaderwah and Batote, along with the towns of Gool, Banihal and Ramsu, experienced the season’s first snowfall on Friday, ending a prolonged dry spell and bringing cheer to people associated with the tourism sector.
The fresh snowfall and accompanying rainfall were welcomed by hoteliers, taxi operators, mule and horse owners, photographers, shopkeepers and vendors operating near these tourist destinations, as it is expected to give a much-needed boost to tourism activities in the region.
Experts believe that the precipitation will also have long-term benefits. The rainfall is expected to recharge hydel project reservoirs, thereby improving power generation, which had declined drastically due to the extended dry season. Additionally, it is likely to replenish groundwater levels, revive natural springs, wells and traditional Baulies, and prove beneficial for fruit and vegetable cultivation across the region. Health experts said the rainfall would help settle atmospheric dust and pollution, leading to improved air quality and better public health conditions.
Heavy snowfall and continuous rainfall have severely disrupted normal life across the entire Pir Panjal region, leading to the closure of several vital roads and highways.
The Jammu-Poonch National Highway (NH-144A) also remained closed at Tota Gali due to nearly two feet of accumulated snow, resulting in a large number of stranded buses, trucks, and private vehicles.
Responding swiftly to the developing situation, the Indian Army’s Romeo Force (RR) launched prompt relief operations and provided assistance to around 110 stranded civilians. The Army personnel distributed hot food, tea, and warm clothing, with special care extended to children and vulnerable individuals.
Meanwhile, in view of incessant rainfall and heavy snowfall across various parts of the Jammu division, the power demand of Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) witnessed an unprecedented decline, dropping to 140 MW at around 04:00 am. Consequent upon sustained restoration efforts undertaken by JPDCL, the running load has since been progressively enhanced to 891 MW, as against the normal average running load of approximately 1150 MW, a PDD official said.
He further said that at Sub-Transmission level, 161 out of 181 numbers of 66/33 KV lines have been restored. At the Distribution level, 740 out of 1373 numbers of 11 kV feeders have been restored and restoration of remaining accessible feeders is being undertaken on priority.
The pace of restoration in certain areas remains constrained due to inaccessibility of snow-bound and rain-affected locations, particularly in hilly and remote regions. The major affected areas include parts of Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Doda, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Kishtwar and Samba districts, especially the higher reaches and interior areas.
In district Jammu, power infrastructure has been affected mainly due to heavy rainfall, strong winds and uprooting of trees leading to damage of HT and LT lines, he added.
Meanwhile, IGP Traffic, Mohd. Suleman Choudhary, convened a meeting to review the prevailing traffic situation in view of recent snowfall in Kashmir Valley, Banihal and Ramban areas of Jammu Division.
The meeting was attended by Mohd Haseeb Mughal, DIG Traffic Range Jammu, Ajaz Ahmed Bhat, SSP Traffic City Srinagar, Ravinder Paul Singh, SSP Traffic Rural Kashmir, Amit Bhasin, SSP Traffic City Jammu, Raja Adil Hamid, SSP Traffic NHW Ramban, Farooq Qaiser, SSP Traffic Rural Jammu, Arvinder Singh Kotwal, SP Traffic City Jammu, Dr Sunniya Wani- DySP Traffic City South Jammu and Ashwani Kumar, Dy.SP Traffic City North Jammu.
During the meeting, the IGP Traffic took a comprehensive review of traffic regulation measures on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other vulnerable stretches affected by snowfall and inclement weather. Stress was laid on ensuring smooth regulation of traffic, timely dissemination of advisories and close coordination with all concerned agencies viz District Administration, Police, BRO, NHAI etc.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
