The Himalayan belt is currently facing the brunt of a vigorous Western Disturbance, which has triggered heavy snowfall in the high-altitude regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. In the lower reaches, persistent rainfall has led to a dramatic drop in temperatures, with the Jammu region recording figures up to seven degrees below the seasonal average. The adverse weather conditions have caused significant logistical challenges, most notably a major landslide in the Ramban district that forced the closure of the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Authorities have also sounded an alarm regarding potential avalanches in the higher mountain passes. In the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, the influence of the hills is being felt through a sharp cooling trend. Chandigarh recorded a maximum temperature of just 27.6 degrees Celsius, nearly five degrees below the normal range. Cities like Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala are also experiencing similar weather patterns, characterized by overcast skies and cool breezes, a stark contrast to the typical heat expected in early April.
