Srinagar, Jan. 24 -- It was a mix of cheer and dread. Cheer, because the prayers of Kashmiris were finally answered as most parts of the Valley and the Jammu region received good snowfall, ending the anxiety caused by a prolonged dry winter.

Dread, because fierce windstorms ahead of the snowfall resulted in widespread losses. The electric power infrastructure came to a grinding halt, trees were uprooted, water supply was disrupted, mobility was hampered, roads and air traffic were suspended, and rooftops were blown away.

As always, the people of Jammu and Kashmir welcomed the weather pattern, though they had not anticipated the fury of the winds. Winter, after all, has to be wet - snow and rain are the lifeline of the Union Territory. F...