Strong winds ripped through Kashmir Valley on Thursday evening, tearing roofs off houses, breaking trees, and cutting power to most of the region. The sudden storm damaged property across Kashmir before fresh snowfall blocked roads and stopped flights.
Wind speeds reached 83 kilometers per hour at Srinagar Airport and 37 kilometers per hour at Jammu Airport. Weather officials issued an orange alert for 17 districts, warning people about thunderstorms, lightning, and winds of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour.
“These winds are linked to a strong weather system from the west. They are unusual for this time of year,” said Faizan Arif an Independent weather forecaster.
The winds came without warning. Families ran out of their homes as roofs flew off and walls fell down. The worst damage happened in Tangmarg and Khag areas, but Pulwama, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, and Srinagar also saw destruction. Power lines broke in many places, leaving neighborhoods dark.
Power Supply Cut Across Valley
The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation said it could only supply 300 megawatts of electricity when people needed 1,900 megawatts. Power lines across the valley stopped working. One major line went down when a falling roof damaged it. All power lines from two grid stations in Shopian failed completely.
“Our teams are ready. We will fix the problems when the weather gets better and it is safe to work,” a power official said. The company had cut power in many areas to keep people safe. They told people to stay away from loose wires and fallen power lines.
The strong winds also started forest fires in five places across Anantnag and Kulgam districts. Mohammad Ashraf Katoo, the forest officer in charge, said fires were burning at Manzmoh and Verinag in Anantnag, and at Lammer, Akhal, and Pranhal in Kulgam.
“We have sent teams to these areas. They are working to stop the fires,” Katoo said.
Police teams worked to clear roads and help people. “Our teams are helping residents and making sure traffic can move,” an official said.
No one was hurt, but many homes and buildings were badly damaged. People lost their belongings when roofs blew away and walls broke.
Government Issues Safety Warning
The Srinagar government told people to stay home and not travel unless needed. They asked residents to call emergency numbers if they needed help.
Snow started falling late Thursday evening in Gulmarg and other mountain areas. This created new problems on Friday morning. The snow forced officials to close the main Jammu-Srinagar highway in both directions. Three other major roads were also shut down.
At least 17 flights could not fly to or from Srinagar Airport because of the snow. Flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Jammu were cancelled. Airport officials said more flights might be cancelled. Train services also stopped, with several trains cancelled between Banihal and Baramulla.
Weather officials said Friday would see the worst of the storm. Another weather system is expected to hit the region on January 26. Weather experts said strong winds would continue in many areas until early Friday morning.
Power officials asked people to be patient, saying the shutdowns were done to keep everyone safe. Traffic police told people to check official sources for road conditions before travelling.
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