Fresh snowfall in Kashmir; accident claims 4 lives in Kishtwar

A view of the snow-covered Bhaderwah area due to heavy snowfall, in Doda on January 5, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Several parts of the Kashmir Valley received a fresh spell of snowfall on Sunday (January 5, 2025). The snowfall disrupted air traffic at the Srinagar airport. Also, four people have died in a road accident in Kishtwar.

Four people were killed when their vehicle fell into a gorge, officials said. The victims were driving to Massu village from Paddar in Kishtwar district. The deceased were identified as Raj Kumar, Mukesh Kumar, Haqiqat Singh, and Satish Kumar, all residents of Garh, Paddar, Kishtwar. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed grief over the incident.

In the Kashmir Valley, the northern districts received major snowfall compared to south and central Kashmir, an official said. North Kashmir’s Kupwara and Baramulla received snowfall for most of the day on Sunday (January 5, 2025). A government spokesman said the Kupwara administration has started clearing major roads in the district “to ensure a seamless flow of essential services.”

Flights cancelled

Meanwhile, snowfall led to the cancellation of most flights at Srinagar airport.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), a Srinagar-based traders’ body, expressed deep concern over the massive flight disruptions that have plagued Srinagar International Airport over the past three days.

“This crisis has been precipitated by the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) continued failure to install the promised upgraded Instrument Landing System (ILS), which would enable safe flight operations even in low visibility conditions. The widespread cancellations have severely impacted thousands of travellers, including international tourists, Umrah pilgrims, business travellers, students returning to educational institutions, and patients travelling for medical treatment,” Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, secretary general of the KCCI, said.

He said the impact on the business community and the general public was severe. “The tourism industry, a crucial sector of our economy, is facing significant losses during what should be a peak travel period. International business travellers have missed crucial meetings, while local businesses have faced significant losses due to delayed shipments and cancelled business travel,” Mr. Bakshi said.