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Snowfall Hits Kashmir as Rain Floods Roads, Storms Warning.

5/22/2026

28 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

On May 21, 2026, snowfall fell in Gurez (Bandipora), Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway and Sonamarg.
Intermittent rain hit the Kashmir valley plains, including Srinagar, easing the earlier heatwave.
Heavy rain on May 20, 2026 damaged a road in Bandipora and flooded homes, causing waterlogging that disrupted movement.
The India Meteorological Department warned of thunderstorms, hailstorms and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph on May 21-22.

History

Historical Context

After the September 2005 Kashmir floods that displaced more than 3 million people and prompted a INR4.5 billion UN-backed relief effort, India experienced the June 2013 Uttarakhand cloudburst—the worst disaster since the 2004 tsunami. In May 2026, heavy snowfall and rain again shut roads across Gurez, Zojila Pass and Srinagar, highlighting a three-fold rise in extreme rainfall since 1901.

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Story summary

On May 21, 2026, snowfall fell in Gurez (Bandipora), Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway and Sonamarg.
Intermittent rain hit the Kashmir valley plains, including Srinagar, easing the earlier heatwave.
Heavy rain on May 20, 2026 damaged a road in Bandipora and flooded homes, causing waterlogging that disrupted movement.
The India Meteorological Department warned of thunderstorms, hailstorms and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph on May 21-22.

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