ibn sultan
Srinagar:Heavy snowfall across the Kashmir Valley on Friday severely disrupted air travel, leading to the suspension and cancellation of several flights at Srinagar International Airport. Airport authorities confirmed that poor weather conditions affected both arrivals and departures, causing inconvenience to hundreds of passengers.
Officials said snowfall reduced runway visibility and made landing conditions unsafe, forcing airlines to halt operations temporarily. Snow-clearance teams were immediately deployed, and efforts were underway to clear the runway and restore normal flight movement as soon as weather conditions improve.
Passengers were advised to check the latest status of their flights with respective airlines before heading to the airport. Authorities expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and urged travellers to cooperate amid adverse weather conditions.
In a travel advisory, IndiGo Airlines stated that take-offs and landings at Srinagar airport had been temporarily suspended due to continuous snowfall. The airline cautioned passengers about possible delays and extended waiting periods, both inside aircraft and at the terminal.
“To ensure readiness for departure once clearance is received, boarding formalities may be completed in advance,” IndiGo said, adding that it is closely monitoring weather conditions.
SpiceJet also issued an alert, warning that all arrivals and departures to and from Srinagar, along with linked flights, could be impacted due to inclement weather. Passengers were urged to regularly track flight updates.
Meanwhile, heavy snowfall also disrupted road connectivity across the Valley. Several key highways and mountain routes were closed due to snow accumulation and slippery conditions.
The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was closed near the Navyug Tunnel, while the Mughal Road and Sinthan Pass were blocked at multiple points. The Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police said vehicular movement on NH-44 was suspended as a precautionary measure, particularly up to the Ramsoo stretch, where snow and rain made roads hazardous.
Authorities said road-clearing operations were in progress and travel advisories would be updated based on weather conditions.
