Archive · 26 Jan 2026
Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Kashmir and Manali
It has been snowing a lot in Kashmir and Manali, which has caused big problems.
In Kashmir, the main road between Srinagar and Jammu was closed for more than two days, and many cars and trucks are stuck on it.
The snow is making it hard for workers to clear the road, and it might take some more time to open it completely.
However, the airport in Srinagar is working fine, and flights are coming and going as usual.
The trains are also running on time.
In Manali, the roads are very crowded with tourists, and many people are stuck in their cars for more than 25 hours in very cold weather.
The snow is making it hard for everyone to move around.
Over 800 roads, including three national highways, remained closed for vehicular movement in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday following heavy snowfall even as unprecedented influx of tourists — looking for weekend getaway — led to kilomteres-long traffic bottlenecks, especially on way to Manali.
Several tourists parked their vehicles by the roadside and were seek trudging through the snow — many carrying the luggage on their heads.
The Srinagar-Jammu national highway was partially restored on Sunday after being closed for more than two days due to heavy snowfall.
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the 270-km highway since Friday.
Fresh snowfall in Srinagar and around the highway in Kulgam district is hampering snow clearance operations.
Flight operations at Srinagar international airport are normal, with three flights arriving.
Train services are operating as per schedule.
- Who
- Traffic police, Airport Authority of India, and officials (Kashmir); Tourists and locals (Manali)
- What
- Heavy snowfall disrupts the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and causes massive traffic jams in Manali
- When
- Since Friday, with partial restoration on Sunday (Kashmir); Friday evening (Manali)
- Where
- Kashmir, including Srinagar and the Srinagar-Jammu national highway; Manali, Himachal Pradesh
- Why
- Heavy snowfall hampered snow clearance operations and caused a surge in tourist influx
Tourism Benefits
Infrastructure Challenges
Tourist Influx
Tourism Benefits
The snowfall attracts tourists, boosting local businesses and tourism.
Infrastructure Challenges
The sudden surge in tourists overwhelms the infrastructure, leading to traffic jams and stranded vehicles.
- Highway Length (Kashmir)
- 270 km
- Closure Duration (Kashmir)
- More than two days
- Affected Vehicles (Kashmir)
- Hundreds
- Flight Operations (Kashmir)
- Normal
- Train Services (Kashmir)
- Operating as per schedule
- Traffic Jam Length (Manali)
- 8 km
- Duration of Stranded Vehicles (Manali)
- 25+ hours
- Temperature (Manali)
- Sub-zero
- Closed Roads (Himachal Pradesh)
- 800+
- Blocked National Highways (Himachal Pradesh)
- 3
Sources
Fresh snowfall in Kashmir; Srinagar-Jammu national highway partially restored
Fresh snowfall in Kashmir: Srinagar-Jammu national highway remains closed for third day
Life In Manali Paralyzed By Snow In Manali, Tourists Stranded On National Highway | WATCH
Snowfall will help restore water table in Kashmir: Omar
8-km traffic jams, people stuck in cars overnight as Manali sees tourist surge amid record snowfall. Watch
Railways to run special trains between Katra and Srinagar on 27 and 28 January amid snowfall alert
Jammu–Srinagar highway partially reopens, bringing relief to tourists
835 roads closed in Himachal, Met predicts more heavy snowfall on Monday
Season’s first snowfall paralyses Manali, tourists stranded for hours on frozen roads
'Stuck In Car For Over 24 Hours': Tourists' Manali Nightmare
Temperatures in Himachal Pradesh to plummet by 4-8 degrees as snow returns
‘Moved Barely 200 Metres In 24 Hours’: Tourists Share Ordeal As Rush Chokes Snow-Hit Manali
Jam forces tourists to ditch cars, trek to Manali