Fresh snowfall in the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday disrupted air connectivity at Srinagar International Airport, grounding multiple flights and stranding hundreds of passengers, while a linked weather system placed Delhi NCR under a precautionary watch for rain and fog. The unfolding conditions highlight how winter climate volatility across north India is increasingly affecting regional mobility, tourism flows and urban transport reliability.
Airport authorities confirmed that several arrivals and departures at Srinagar were cancelled as snowfall reduced runway visibility and safety margins for aircraft operations. The disruptions left travellers, including tourists returning after the long weekend, waiting for rebooked services or alternate travel options. Aviation planners note that Srinagar’s winter weather sensitivity remains a structural challenge, particularly during peak tourism periods when flight schedules are densely packed.
Meteorologists attributed the weather disturbance to an active western disturbance influencing large parts of north India. Such systems, which draw moisture from the Mediterranean region, are common in winter but are now producing more intense and erratic snowfall and rainfall episodes. Climate scientists say these shifts are consistent with broader warming trends that alter atmospheric circulation patterns, making weather impacts more unpredictable across both mountain and plain regions.
In the National Capital Region, the India Meteorological Department placed most districts of Delhi under a ‘watch’, forecasting light rain and shallow to moderate fog during early morning hours. Neighbouring urban centres such as Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar are also on alert, while Gurugram and Faridabad remain under normal conditions for now. Transport authorities cautioned that reduced visibility could affect road traffic, suburban rail operations and flight schedules during peak commuting hours. Urban mobility experts say fog and low cloud cover routinely disrupt NCR’s transport ecosystem, exposing vulnerabilities in last-mile connectivity and commuter safety. “Weather-related delays carry economic costs, from lost productivity to higher logistics expenses,” said an infrastructure policy analyst. The impact is particularly pronounced for low-income workers who rely on early-morning travel to industrial zones and construction sites.
The IMD has indicated that another western disturbance is likely to approach later this week, raising the possibility of fresh snowfall in higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, alongside intermittent rain across north-western plains. Tourism operators warn that repeated flight disruptions can dampen winter travel sentiment, while hospitality businesses face booking cancellations and operational uncertainty. From a built environment perspective, urban planners argue that extreme winter weather underscores the need for climate-resilient transport infrastructure. This includes better runway snow-clearing capacity at hill airports, fog-detection systems for urban highways, and improved early-warning communication for commuters. “Weather adaptation is no longer optional. It is a core urban infrastructure requirement,” said a city planning consultant.
Authorities have advised travellers to monitor airline advisories and weather updates, especially those flying to or from hill destinations. For Delhi NCR, officials are urging commuters to plan flexible travel schedules and exercise caution during fog-prone hours. As winter weather patterns grow more erratic, coordinated regional planning between aviation authorities, urban transport agencies and climate monitoring bodies will be critical. Strengthening early-warning systems, upgrading transport resilience and integrating climate risk into infrastructure investment decisions can help ensure that seasonal disruptions do not repeatedly escalate into economic and civic stress across north India’s interconnected urban corridors.
Srinagar Flights Halted Delhi NCR Under Watch
