Hundreds of tourists remain stuck in Kashmir because the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather road connecting the valley to the rest of India, has been closed for the second day on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The highway was shut due to heavy snowfall and slippery roads. Kailash, a tourist from Rajasthan, told PTI Videos, "I have been stuck here for the last two days. We had come here to enjoy snow, but it is this snow that has become our punishment." He urged the authorities to clear the road "anyhow" and let travellers leave as their families are waiting. He added, "The flights were cancelled yesterday and now the fare has increased. They are asking for at least 20-25 thousand. We request you to clear the road as it is causing us distress. If this approach remains, then next time no tourist will come to Kashmir, we will not come for sure if it continues like this." Another tourist, Mohit Sharma, said the closure has caused “many hardships.” He said, "They are not allowing traffic even after the weather has improved. We want to go home, but are stuck here unfortunately. It is causing us many hardships. We are forced to spend extra than our budget. We want them to allow traffic so that the people who are stranded and have nowhere to go, could leave." While many are anxious, some like Delhi University professor Shipra Bharadwaj view the snow as a blessing. On her fourth trip to Kashmir, she said, "I won't say that I am stuck. I do not feel that I am stuck. Everyone is not fortunate to be stuck here, I am." She visited during "Chilla-i-Kalan," the coldest and snowiest 40-day winter period. "I had never felt snow fall over my head. This time I did. I am fortunate," she added. Snowfall on Tuesday, January 27, forced the highway closure and the suspension of flights at Srinagar airport. Flight services resumed Wednesday after weather improved, but the highway remained closed. Authorities and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) teams are working to clear snow and salt the road to reduce slipperiness. They continue efforts to reopen NH-44 safely for traffic.