Ziraat Times Team Report
SRINAGAR, JAN 22: In a departure from the typical “soft snow” silence of January, a violent and unusual windstorm swept across the Kashmir Valley on Thursday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction and chaos. Triggered by an intense Western Disturbance (WD) entering the region, the gusty winds—reaching speeds of 40–60 km/h—have wreaked havoc in the plains and karewas, even as the Pir Panjal and Himalayan ranges began witnessing heavy snowfall.
The storm, which peaked late Thursday night, proved catastrophic for residential and public infrastructure. Reports from across the Valley indicate widespread damage:
Structural famage: High-velocity winds blew off the tin roofs of dozens of houses and government buildings. In the karewa belts (uplands) of Budgam and Pulwama, the impact was particularly severe, with residents describing the winds as “unseen in decades.”
Power & connectivity outage: The electricity network has been crippled as falling trees and flying debris snapped transmission lines and uprooted electric poles. Several mobile towers were also reportedly damaged, leading to communication blackouts in parts of North and South Kashmir.
Road blocks: Major arterial roads and interior links have been rendered impassable (“blismed”) by fallen trees, branches, and iron roofing sheets. Emergency services are currently struggling to clear debris amid the ongoing inclement weather.
“Unusual phenomenon”
Meteorologists and locals alike have expressed shock at the nature of the storm. Traditionally, the 40-day period of Chillai Kalan is characterized by heavy, silent snowfall and sub-zero temperatures.
“January is the time for soft, powdery snow that settles quietly. To see stormy winds of this intensity—ripping roofs and toppling towers—is a very rare and worrying shift in our winter weather pattern,” said a local resident in Srinagar.
