Jammu & Kashmir is receiving its heaviest snowfall and rain in recent years due to western disturbances coming from Iran and Afghanistan. It has thrown life out of gear disrupting power supply, road, rail and air connectivity.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said moderate precipitation conditions will be created over north India due to the western disturbances along with upper air cyclonic circulation moving towards Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh from south Pakistan.

Another western disturbance is coming up around January 8 which will cause rain and snow over the hilly regions until January 9.

Most places in Kashmir, including plains of the valley, received moderate to heavy snowfall overnight.  According to the IMD, the minimum and maximum temperature in Srinagar is expected to be around minus 1 and 4 degrees Celsius respectively.   Srinagar recorded 10 inches of snowfall and the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded two feet of fresh snow. While Qazigund recorded 11 inches, Kokernag three inches, Pahalgam 16 inches and Kupwara 17 inches of snow.

In the last 12 hours, Jammu received 15 mm rains while Manali 7 mm, Banihal 10 mm, Qazigund 23 mm, Kupwara  42.5 mm, Pahalgam 40 mm, Gulmarg 27 mm, Kalpa  4 mm and Gurdaspur in Punjab 3.9 mm of rain.

Jammu’s temperature was 8.6, Katra 6.4, Batote minus 1.3, Bannihal 0.3 and Bhaderwah minus 0.2 the night’s lowest temperatures.

Tragedy struck an impoverished family as five members of it, including two children, died due to asphyxiation in a residential house in Srinagar. The family was from Karnah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, which has been cut-off from the rest of the Valley due to heavy snowfall. Officials said the bodies would be airlifted to Karnah on Sunday for last rites.

 The family had most probably put on a gas heater to warm the rented room as heavy snowfall and absence of power supply had plummeted temperature in the city. There have been several such deaths including those of non-local labourers and workers due to asphyxiation while using LPG gas heaters during night.

Meanwhile, a civilian died after slipping from a rooftop of his house while clearing snow in Bandipora town of north Kashmir. Mumtaz Ahmad, a Government employee, was immediately shifted to district hospital where he died due to grave injuries.

The residents across the Valley woke up in the morning to a white layer enveloping everything outside their hearths. The snow drape exhibited a more attractive look in the afternoon when a glittering sun shined over it for a while before hiding again behind thick clouds.

The movement of people began quite late in the morning after snow clearance machines were pressed into service to facilitate passage of vehicles on roads. The inner lanes, by-lanes and roads in Srinagar city were blocked due to snow accumulation. The locals complained that the snow clearance work was quite sluggish.

 The 300-kilometer Srinagar Jammu National Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the second consecutive day due to heavy snowfall that occurred on both sides of Nashri Tunnel. Road clearance work has been disturbed due to continuous snowfall and slippery road condition.

 Sources said the runway on Srinagar Airport was not cleared till late in the afternoon leading to cancellation of all morning flights.

The air traffic resumed later in the day after Beacon workers cleared the runway. An official said runway clearance was a daunting task due to halt of five aircraft. The authorities also stopped train service between Budgam and Baramulla in north Kashmir.

 The snowfall brought cheer to the hoteliers and visitors in Gulmarg and Pahalgam as they are expecting an increase in tourist arrivals due to timely and colossal snowfall.The Valley is currently under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, a 40-day long period of harsh winter that commences each year on December 21 and concludes on January 30. During this period, water bodies situated in the region freeze, due to which locals light small fires each day around rivers and water taps for the deposited snow to melt.

The Jammu region also saw isolated spells of heavy rain and snowfall. Besides Rajouri and Poonch, the Vaishno Devi hills received snowfall and helicopter and cable car services at the hilltop shrine in Reasi district were stopped temporarily.