The Aryavarth Express
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): A harsh cold wave continued to sweep through the Kashmir Valley on Friday, with sub-zero temperatures pushing residents indoors and forcing those venturing out to bundle up in heavy winter wear. Despite the biting chill, many in Srinagar were seen maintaining their morning routines, braving foggy streets and frosty air.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.4°C, while the maximum is expected to reach 12.6°C. With December underway, temperatures are projected to dip further in the coming days, intensifying the Valley’s winter conditions.
Visuals from across the region showed thick fog blanketing roads as locals carried on with daily activities amid freezing weather.
Historic Road Connectivity Reaches Remote Rajouri Villages
In a significant infrastructural milestone, motorable road connectivity has been established for the first time since independence in several remote villages of the Kalakote sub-division in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.
The newly built stretch links Patta to Ghodar village and connects the previously inaccessible Arras villages with the Tehsil headquarters, district headquarters, and the Rajouri–Kalakote highway. The development work was carried out under the NABARD scheme.
Residents of the remote hilly belt in the Pir Panjal Mountain Range expressed deep gratitude to the government for bringing long-awaited connectivity to their doorsteps.
Jagdev Singh, a local resident, said the new road has brought a transformative change to daily life, particularly for children.
“I thank the government. This road has been constructed for the first time in 70 years. Earlier, the area was so underdeveloped that children remained illiterate and rarely went to school. Now, they can attend school easily,” he told.
Another resident, Manohar Lal, echoed similar sentiments, recalling the hardships villagers faced due to the absence of roads and electricity.
“Earlier we faced many difficulties — no roads, no electricity. Children walked long distances to school, and even officials couldn’t reach our village. When elders fell sick, we had to use horses to take them to hospitals. Under PM Modi’s government, our village finally has roads and power. We are very thankful,” he said.
The improved connectivity is expected to significantly enhance access to education, healthcare, and administrative services in the region, marking a major step forward for development in Jammu and Kashmir’s remote mountainous areas.
