India, Jan. 23 -- Ending a prolonged and worrying dry spell, Kashmir received its first major snowfall of the season on Friday, bringing cheer to tourists but causing widespread disruption to essential services.

While the upper reaches, including the ski resort of Gulmarg, recorded over two feet of snow, the heavy accumulation led to the suspension of air traffic, closure of key highways, and significant power outages across the Valley.

Air travel at the Srinagar international airport came to a standstill on Friday morning, with at least 17 flights cancelled as snow clearance operations continued. The airport authorities cautioned on X that normalisation may take longer than expected, advising passengers to coordinate with airlines.

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