Bandipora, The J&K administration in North Kashmir's Bandipora district ordered the closure of the Gurez Highway due to fresh snowfall at the Razdan Pass and other higher reaches on Monday.
In an official order, the district administration of Bandipora mandated the closure of the road leading to Gurez Valley until further notice.
Traditionally, the Gurez road remains inaccessible from December onwards during the winter months due to heavy snowfall. However, this year presented a bizarre extreme as prolonged dry spells spared the upper reaches from snowfall until the conclusion of Chillai Kalan, the harshest winter period.
Meteorological officials have reported a possibility of light to moderate rain and snow in various areas of Jammu and Kashmir over the next 24 hours.
Specifically, there is a forecast for snowfall in the isolated higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Shopian, Anantnag, and Kulgam, until February 3.
The Meteorological Department (MeT) predicts temporary closures of mountain passes, such as Sinthan Pass, Mughal Road, Sadhna Pass, Razdan Pass, Zojila, etc., particularly during the period from January 28 to 31.
As the Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day severe winter period, concludes on January 29, the region is expected to transition into a 20-day-long mild cold period called 'Chillai-Khurd' from January 30 to February 19, followed by a 10-day stretch known as 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold) from February 20 to March 1.