Train Operations Halted in Valley Due to New Snowfall

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Train services suspended due to snowfall.
- Tracks will reopen once snow is cleared.
- Weather expected to remain dry until January 19.
- Tourist spots remain popular despite cold.
- Sonamarg tunnel enhances all-season access.
Srinagar, Jan 16 (NationPress) Train services from Banihal town in the Jammu division to Baramulla town within the Kashmir Valley were halted on Thursday due to new snowfall on the tracks, according to officials.
Railway representatives indicated that the train operations will resume once the tracks are cleared of the snow accumulation.
Snowfall has been ongoing in various areas of the Valley since the morning. The weather office reported that conditions would start to improve by late afternoon. While Jammu experienced a partly cloudy sky, the sun emerged from behind the clouds later in the day.
The weather office anticipates no significant changes in overall conditions until January 19, as the weather is expected to remain dry.
Despite the persistent sub-zero temperatures in the Valley today, a slight rise in the minimum temperature due to overnight cloud cover provided some relief to residents who have been enduring severe cold since December, when the 40-day long period known as ‘Chillai Kalan’ commenced. This intense cold phase will conclude on January 30, after which improvements in the weather are expected.
Numerous tourists have flocked to various scenic spots, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.
The 6.4 km long Sonamarg tunnel, constructed at a cost of Rs 2700 crore, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13. This tunnel originates from Gagangir in the Ganderbal district, avoiding the avalanche-prone stretch between Gagangir and Sonamarg, which remains closed during winter.
With the operational Sonamarg tunnel, Sonamarg is now an all-season tourist destination. It is poised to be developed into the second-best ski resort in Kashmir, following Gulmarg. Once the Zojila Tunnel, currently under construction across the Zojila Pass, opens in 2028, the Sonamarg tunnel will facilitate year-round travel to the Ladakh region.