Jammu and Kashmir reels under a ferocious cold snap, with sub-zero temperatures defining daily life. Strikingly, while snow graces higher altitudes from Drass to Kokernag, the sprawling plains of central Kashmir witness no flakes, intensifying the raw, wind-whipped cold. This disparity marks an atypical winter phase.
Temperature bulletins confirm the severity: Pulwama at minus 6.5 degrees, Shopian minus 7.1, Baramulla minus 4.3, and Jammu at 3.8 degrees. High-altitude Sonamarg shivered at minus 9.2 with heavy snow accumulation. Radiation fog lingers, blanketing cities in a white haze unrelated to snow.
Communities adapt resiliently. Pashmina-clad locals rely on ‘tsoi’ (firewood stoves), while urban areas see heater sales spike. Airports operate with delays, and passenger trains halt at night. Health advisories warn against hypothermia, with cases rising in border districts.
The IMD anticipates sustained chills, punctuated possibly by a Thursday snow event in lowlands. This could herald a shift, melting the impasse. Economically, handicraft markets suffer low turnout, though online sales offer solace.
Reflecting broader patterns, this snowless plains phenomenon echoes last year’s trends, linked to erratic monsoons and polar vortex influences. Stakeholders call for bolstered infrastructure like insulated homes and reliable power. As J&K fortifies against the freeze, optimism lingers for a snowy turnaround to rejuvenate spirits and landscapes.