00:00Now, winter may have arrived late, but it is now firmly gripped North India in the national capital and its adjoining regions.
00:05A spell of rain has finally brought the much-needed relief and cheer from the toxic air.
00:10The AQI in Delhi NCR has improved Grab 3 Hattadiyagaya from severe to very poor category.
00:15And there's hope of further improvement as well, with more showers forecasted tomorrow over this long weekend, which is approaching as well.
00:23Now, away from the capital, large parts of North India are witnessing intense winter conditions.
00:27And just look at those gorgeous shots from Jammu and Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand.
00:33Heavy snowfall has transformed hill towns into postcard-perfect landscapes, drawing tourists and setting the stage for a very busy, long weekend.
00:43So we thought, if you, like me, are working, cannot go, let's give you a little glimpse of what those places look like.
00:49Joining me is my colleague, Ashraf Vani. He joins us from Jammu and Kashmir.
00:57All right, before we actually go to my colleagues, let's quickly give you a roundup of what these places are looking like.
01:03Then we'll dip in.
01:04Winter tightened its grip across North India once again, as fresh snowfall blanketed large parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
01:25In Kashmir, snowfall quickly resulted in flight delays and road closures.
01:30Operations at the Srinagar Airport were hit hard as snowfall forced the cancellation of at least 26 flights.
01:42Airport authorities said snow clearance operations were underway on the runway, but airlines cautioned passengers to brace for delays and extended wait times as conditions continued to pose challenges.
01:55The mercury dipped in roads turned treacherous across the valley.
02:02Higher reaches bore the brunt of the snowfall, prompting the closure of several key mountain roads.
02:08Authorities have ordered the closure of schools in several areas of Kashmir as a precautionary measure, citing safety concerns amid freezing temperatures and slippery roads.
02:19The wind is in the middle of the snowfall as well.
02:49was not without its scenic movements. Tourist hotspot Gulmagh recorded 20 and 24 inches of
02:55fresh snow, transforming the Meadow Resort into a pristine white expanse. Meanwhile,
03:02Shimla woke up to its first snowfall of the season.
03:08The fresh snowfall across Jemun, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh is part of a broader winter
03:13system affecting large swaths of North India.
03:19Shimla is now popular for the winter, today it is a winter.
03:25And from the winter, the winter was already announced that the winter was in the
03:32land of Himachal Pradesh, which is in the mid-and-down areas of the land, has been
03:37there. So, it is just in the morning, which is in the mid-and-down areas of the land,
03:41which is in the mid-and-down areas of the land.
03:45As cold intensifies, officials in Jammu and Kashmir and Imachal are racing against time,
03:51clearing roads and restoring connectivity.
03:55Bera Report, India Today.
04:00All right, let's cut across to my colleague Ashraf Wani, joining us from Srinagar.
04:04Ashraf, here we are again.
04:06Long weekend is coming.
04:07People have made up their plans.
04:09And now we are wondering if this is the right time to go.
04:11The joke in the newsroom, however, is that today is supposed to be Basant Panchmi.
04:15This is the day where forward temperatures actually become warmer.
04:20But this time the opposite has happened.
04:23It's become cooler now.
04:25But for a local like you, are you having fun or are you cribbing about too much snow?
04:34Actually, Sonal, the global warming impact is now visible across the globe,
04:38particularly here in the Himalayan states, including the Jammu and Kashmir.
04:42The 40-day spell of the Chilakalan is considered as the coldest season in the Kashmir,
04:47which begins on 21st of December and then concludes on 31st of January.
04:53But this year we have seen most of this cold spell was dry across the Kashmir Valley.
04:58We had reports from different forest areas.
05:00There was abrupt forest fires witnessed in different localities and forest areas of Kashmir.
05:07But abruptly the weather scenario changed,
05:09which was predicted by the Med Department since Thursday evening.
05:12And it is heaviest snowfall of the season so far in the Kashmir.
05:17We have reports from the U-Smarg, which is in the Badgam district,
05:20more than four feet snow has got accumulated there.
05:23Then also in the Kulgam district, which is in the South Kashmir,
05:26Shopyan district, the Mughal road which connects the Kashmir Valley with the Punch
05:31is closed for the vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall at least four feet
05:35at the Pirki Gully, which is one of the passes.
05:38Same is the scenario with the Kurgill road that has been also closed
05:41due to heavy snowfall in Zojila as well as in the Sonmarg.
05:46And also, as you mentioned in the report,
05:48in the Gulmarg that has also recorded about two feet of snow.
05:52And it is currently snowing, not only in the Srinagar but also in the other parts
05:56of the Kashmir Valley.
05:58And Med Department has said that this heavy snowfall will bring another spell
06:03of cold wave, not only here in the Kashmir but also its impact will be
06:07in the northern parts, including in the Delhi.
06:10So the cold is settled behind and the coming days will be colder
06:15and even the night is too much cool here in the Srinagar.
06:19The temperature is predicted for today's night is minus five,
06:23which may decline to minus seven in coming two days.
06:26All right.
06:27Already feeling it here in the national capital and not complaining about it at all.
06:30Let me also cut across to my colleague Ankit Sharma.
06:32Ankit, long weekend a-gaya hai, 26th Republic Day par chhutti hai sab ki.
06:38Toh agar koi travel kar raha hai, hills ki taraf, toh roads ki kya halat hai,
06:44koon-koon se highway band hai, koon-koon se chal raha hai hai,
06:47uski baare mein thodi janakari bhe dije.
06:52Well, absolutely.
06:54You can see behind me the national highway connecting to Shimla
06:58and you can see the chaos, people are thronging to Uttarakhand
07:02and also travelling to Himachal from here in large number.
07:06And after today's sudden weather turn,
07:10it has completely set to rejoice among the people
07:15and people are overjoyed because the weather has turned late,
07:20but it has come better and the temperatures have also plummeted
07:24and it has caused some joy to the farmers and as well as tourists.
07:30People are flocking to higher hill station in large number,
07:34talking about the scenic destinations like Harshal, Chokta
07:38and talking about Masoori, higher areas of Nainital
07:42have completely blanketed in white.
07:44All right, so that was my colleague Ankit over there
07:58saying that there seems to be an entire white spread all across.
08:03The weather has turned this time, not at the right time perhaps,
08:07but just in time for people to enjoy
08:10in case they had plans for the long weekend.
08:13Maninder Arroda, my colleague is also with us live from Manali.
08:19Maninder, tell us, there is still snow happening.
08:23That looks lovely behind you.
08:26Tell us, when is snow going there?
08:29And importantly, what is the situation of highways?
08:31Do people can reach now?
08:32Manali, what is the situation of the city as well as they are?
08:50Manali, what is the situation of Manali?
08:51Manali, what is the situation of running for Manali?
09:25Thank you very much.
09:55Thank you very much.
10:25Thank you very much.
10:55Thank you very much.
10:57Thank you very much.
10:58Thank you very much.
10:59Thank you very much.
11:02Thank you very much.
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