Srinagar, Jan. 28 -- Kashmir's first major snowfall of 2026, burying districts like, Shopian, Anantnag, and Baramulla under several feet of snow, revealed not beauty but breakdown. What should have been a season of wonder became a test of survival. The administration's promises of readiness; stockpiled essentials, upgraded infrastructure, swift response; collapsed at the first storm.

Tourists lured by glossy packages of a "snow-clad paradise" found themselves trapped in Gulmarg hotels as roads remained blocked and electricity vanished. Families huddled under blankets; their vacations reduced to endurance. Locals in Tangmarg posted images of collapsed rooftops, snapped poles, and blocked roads. Social media became the Valley's diary of de...