Snowfall Paralyses Srinagar Airport: 50 Flights Grounded as Heavy Winter Storm Hits Kashmir
SRINAGAR — Air travel to and from the Kashmir Valley faced a major standstill on Tuesday as persistent heavy snowfall and deteriorating weather conditions led to the cancellation of 50 flights at Srinagar International Airport. The disruption has left hundreds of travelers stranded, many of whom were attempting to depart following the Republic Day holiday weekend.
According to reports , the Airport Authority of India (AAI) confirmed that the cancellations included 25 arrivals and 25 departures. While four additional flights remained on the schedule initially, airport officials indicated that they were unlikely to operate given the relentless nature of the snowfall and poor visibility, which have rendered the runway unsafe for flight operations.
In an official statement, the Airport Authority of India emphasized that the decision to suspend traffic was made in the interest of passenger safety. “In view of adverse weather conditions and continuing snowfall at Srinagar Airport, airlines have cancelled most of the flights for today,” the authority noted.
The suspension of air traffic has created significant challenges for tourists. Many visitors, who had flocked to the region to enjoy the winter scenery over the long weekend, now find themselves stuck in the Valley with no clear timeline for when operations will resume.
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Airlines, including major carriers like IndiGo and Air India, have issued travel advisories. Passengers have been urged to coordinate directly with their respective airlines for the latest updates on flight status and to explore alternate travel arrangements or re-accommodation.
Meteorological officials have indicated that the current weather system brought the season’s first significant snowfall to the plains, including Srinagar city, while higher reaches experienced much heavier accumulations. Beyond the airport, the inclement weather has also impacted ground transportation, with key routes such as the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway facing closures.
As of Tuesday afternoon, airport ground crews remained on standby for snow clearance, but officials warned that a resumption of service is entirely dependent on an improvement in visibility and a cessation of the heavy snowfall.