A potent western disturbance dumped snow across the Himalayas on 27 January, forcing the cancellation of all flights at Srinagar airport and blocking more than 700 roads in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Economic Times reporters said visibility at Srinagar fell below 500 metres, closing the runway and stranding thousands of Republic-Day holidaymakers.
The Jammu–Srinagar highway, a lifeline for Kashmir’s supplies, was shut, while Himachal authorities scrambled to restore power and water in snow-bound districts. Avalanche warnings were issued for Kupwara, Baramulla and parts of the Chenab Valley, prompting the army to halt troop rotations near forward posts.
![Heavy Snow Grounds Flights and Blocks Highways Across North India]()
For corporate travellers and logistics firms the disruption is particularly acute: Srinagar’s airport handles growing volumes of pharmaceutical and hand-loom exports, while IT service companies in Himachal’s hill towns rely on road connectivity to Chandigarh and Delhi. Airlines have offered fee-free re-booking but admit high load factors on alternative routes could delay recovery for several days.
Mobility advisers recommend rerouting via Jammu or Amritsar for urgent travel and checking state tourism websites for updated road-opening schedules. The episode highlights India’s vulnerability to extreme weather and the need for contingency planning in domestic mobility programmes.
The Jammu–Srinagar highway, a lifeline for Kashmir’s supplies, was shut, while Himachal authorities scrambled to restore power and water in snow-bound districts. Avalanche warnings were issued for Kupwara, Baramulla and parts of the Chenab Valley, prompting the army to halt troop rotations near forward posts.
For corporate travellers and logistics firms the disruption is particularly acute: Srinagar’s airport handles growing volumes of pharmaceutical and hand-loom exports, while IT service companies in Himachal’s hill towns rely on road connectivity to Chandigarh and Delhi. Airlines have offered fee-free re-booking but admit high load factors on alternative routes could delay recovery for several days.
Mobility advisers recommend rerouting via Jammu or Amritsar for urgent travel and checking state tourism websites for updated road-opening schedules. The episode highlights India’s vulnerability to extreme weather and the need for contingency planning in domestic mobility programmes.
Source: The Economic Times
