Srinagar, March 16: Over 200 tourists stranded at Sinthan Top in Anantnag district of South Kashmir have been safely rescued by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in a joint operation.
According to the Indian Army, soldiers from the 19 National Rifles initiated the rescue mission in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Police (Anantnag). This action was taken as continuous snowfall, slippery roads, and low visibility trapped several vehicles and passengers in the area.
Despite challenging weather conditions and difficult terrain, the joint teams successfully evacuated 214 stranded tourists and local residents to safer locations. The Indian Army reported that the rescue operation was conducted under extremely challenging circumstances, ensuring the safety of all individuals trapped in the high mountain pass.
The weather in various major cities of the Kashmir Valley remains cold. On Monday, Gulmarg recorded a temperature of approximately 0.4 degrees Celsius, with calm winds and 100 percent humidity. Jammu city experienced a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius, with winds blowing at about 20.4 kilometers per hour and humidity at 94 percent. Pahalgam recorded a temperature of 1.8 degrees Celsius, also with calm winds.
In Srinagar, the temperature was noted at 6.5 degrees Celsius, with winds from the northeast at around 3.7 kilometers per hour and humidity at 94 percent. Banihal recorded a temperature of 5.2 degrees Celsius, while Katra saw temperatures at 9.8 degrees Celsius with winds from the northwest. Kupwara recorded a temperature of 4.4 degrees Celsius.
Earlier, fresh snowfall in the higher regions of Jammu and Kashmir and rain in the plains led to a significant drop in temperatures on Sunday, marking the first time since February that temperatures fell below normal. Areas such as Pir Ki Gali, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Gulmarg, Doodpathri, Gurez Valley, Sadhna Top, upper regions of Pahalgam, and the Sonamarg-Zojila route received snowfall ranging from 4 to 6 inches.
Due to slippery roads, vehicle movement on the Gurez-Bandipora road connecting Kashmir to Kargil and Leh, as well as the Sonamarg-Zojila road, was halted. The police administration also closed the Mughal Road connecting Kashmir to the Pir Panjal region, along with the routes connecting Kashmir to the Chenab Valley via Sinthan Top and Margan Top.
Light to moderate snowfall was reported in several parts of the Kishtwar district in the Jammu division, including the twin valleys of Marwah and Warwan, as well as the upper areas of Ramban district.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
