After an unprecedented dry spell through February, Kashmir experienced major relief on Sunday as few areas in its higher reaches, including the Gulmarg tourist resort, received fresh snowfall.
The districts where snowfall was recorded are Gulmarg, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Shopian, and Bandipora.
Pir Ki Gali, along the Mughal Road in Shopian, and Sonamarg Zojilla axis were among the areas that received fresh snowfall.
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Visuals from Gulmarg showed several groups of tourists enjoying the snowfall. While many of them posed for photographs amid the heavy downpour, others appeared to be left in awe by the snow-covered slopes.
Ground videos from Shopian showed snow-draped pine trees as the weather brought joy for tourists. Speaking to reporters, a tourist from Bihar said she was unable to contain her happiness over the unexpected snowfall.
Snowfall also took place in the Gurez Valley, where a thick blanket of snow covered the surrounding hills.
In the Sinthan Top mountain pass, heavy traffic disruption was witnessed as a result of the snowfall.
Meanwhile, the plains of the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, were lashed by rain. The wet weather has caused a plunge in the day temperature across Kashmir.
The meteorological department has predicted erratic weather till March 20. According to weather officials, intermittent light to moderate rain, or snow in the higher reaches, was likely to continue till Monday morning.
There is a possibility of a brief spell of light rain or snow in the higher reaches at isolated places on Tuesday, news agency PTI noted.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has linked the fresh snowfall in Kashmir and other parts of the western Himalayas to a fresh western disturbance.
“Scattered to fairly widespread light rainfall/snowfall likely over Western Himalayan region during 15th-21th March,” the IMD said in its weather bulletin on Sunday, March 15.
Snowfall in March is considered off-season in the western Himalayas as the region typically receives most of its snow between December and February.
– Ends
(With inputs from PTI)
Published On:
Mar 16, 2026 08:13 IST
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