In pictures: Heavy snowfall disrupts life in Kashmir

A Kashmiri villager clears snow near the entrance of his house to make way for his car as it snows in Pulwama, south of Srinagar.

Vehicles move slowly on the snow-covered road during fresh snowfall, in Srinagar. Intermittent heavy snowfall during the last 48 hours threw life out of gear in Kashmir on Wednesday as the meteorological (MeT) department forecast improvement in weather from afternoon.

Over two feet snow accumulated on the ground in plains of the valley while the higher reaches in Jammu and Kashmir received nearly four feet of snow during the last 48 hours.

Trucks stranded at Srinagar-Jammu National highway during heavy snowfall, in Qazigund. Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed on Wednesday for the fourth consecutive day while no flight operation took place from Srinagar airport for the second day.

Authorities are battling to restore traffic on the main roads in the valley while most of the rural areas remained cut off.

Hardships for the locals are compounded by the failure of the electric supply in the rural areas while the same remained erratic in semi-urban and urban areas.

"There would be improvement in weather conditions from today afternoon and during the next few days, weather is likely to remain mainly dry. This will help increase the day temperatures, but night temperatures would drop significantly during this period", an official of the MeT department said.

The ongoing 40-day long period of harsh winter cold known locally as the 'Chillai Kalan' will end on January 31.

Snow-covered taxis in Srinagar.

Srinagar recorded minus 0.9, Pahalgam minus 1.2 and Gulmarg minus 3.5 as the minimum temperatures on Wednesday.

A boatman uses an oar to break the ice layer of a frozen portion of Dal Lake after heavy snowfall in Srinagar.

The minimum temperature recorded in Kargil was minus 11.6, and Drass had minus 8.6 as the night's lowest temperature. Jammu city had 12.1, Katra 9.2, Batote 3.2, Banihal 0.2 and Bhadarwah 2.2 as the day's lowest temperatures.

Snow-cutter machine clear snow on a road during fresh snowfall, in Srinagar.

Meanwhile, avalanche warning has been issued on Tuesday for higher reaches of Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara and Bandipora districts, according to the Disaster Management Authority of Jammu and Kashmir.

'Shikaras' anchored along the banks of Dal Lake during heavy snowfall, in Srinagar.

The authority tweeted, "Medium Level (Yellow Alert) Avalanche Warning has been issued for higher reaches of Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara and Bandipora districts, besides Waltengu Nad, South and North portals of Jawahar Tunnel, Verinag, Kapran, Chowkibal-NC Pass, Gurez, Dawar and Neeru."

"Low level (Yellow Alert) Avalanche warning for upper reaches of Udhampur, Baramulla, Ganderbal and Kargil districts besides Sonamarg - Zojila, Z-Gali- Kalaroose, Kanzalwan, Tangmarg and Gulmarg", the Disaster Management of Jammu and Kashmir Government added.

For providing help to citizens in Jammu and Kashmir, CRPF tweeted, "Tourists, travellers stuck on NH-44 and common public facing problems due to heavy snowfall and extreme weather can contact CRPF 'Madadgaar' portal for help 24x7 on 14411. Travel only when necessary. Ensure proper ventilation at home to prevent asphyxiation."

A car is seen covered in snow during a heavy snowfall in Srinagar.

Kashmiris commute on a snow covered road as it snows in Pulwama, south of Srinagar.

A boatman rides a Shikara on the frozen water of Dal Lake after a heavy snowfall, in Srinagar.

Trucks stranded at Srinagar-Jammu National highway after heavy snowfall in Qazigund.

Snow clearing machine is used to clear snow from a road in Pulwama, south of Srinagar.

Kashmiri villagers transport electric generator on a wheel barrow as it snows in Pulwama.

Kashmiris employed by government clear snow from a flyover in Srinagar.

A man seen walk past as Shikaras (boat) covered with snow after a heavy snowfall, at Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Tourists take pictures in a snow covered park during snowfall in Srinagar.

A villager walks carrying cooking gas cylinder on his shoulder as it snows in Pulwama.

A man clears snow from the roof of his shop as it snows in Pulwama.