Gurez Valley snowfall prompts Kashmir travel advisories and road closures

Fresh snowfall has blanketed the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, including the remote Gurez Valley in Bandipora district, prompting local authorities to issue swift travel advisories for tourists and commuters to ensure public safety.

Civil administration officials have urged travellers to avoid non-essential movement towards vulnerable high-altitude tracks until road clearance teams confirm safe conditions. The proactive response forms part of a broader seasonal management framework deployed across the Union Territory to maintain safety as weather patterns shift across the Himalayan belt.

Along with Gurez, higher elevation zones such as Gulmarg, Peer Ki Gali, and the Zojila Pass witnessed fresh snow accumulation through the day. Meanwhile, lower valley areas and plains received light rainfall, bringing down ambient temperatures in Srinagar and surrounding districts.

To mitigate hazards on steep mountain corridors, traffic authorities temporarily suspended vehicle movement along the Mughal Road, which links Shopian district in the Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu division. Emergency road clearance machinery and district response teams have been stationed along key passes to manage clearing operations rapidly.

District control rooms have been activated across Kashmir, offering real-time route updates to visitors and commercial transport operators. Civil administration personnel have advised tourists visiting popular highland destinations to confirm road status with official helplines before undertaking journeys into elevated sectors.

The Union Territory administration has directed district officers and police officials to maintain continuous oversight of vulnerable transit corridors. With dedicated machinery deployed on major highways and emergency assistance teams on call, civil authorities are working to balance tourism management with public safety across the valley.