As a result of "moderate to heavy snowfall" in the region, the meteorological service in Jammu and Kashmir has issued an avalanche warning for the area. The snowfall, which began on Wednesday and is scheduled to last till January 8, according to the India Meteorological Department, is expected to continue (IMD).

'The upper reaches of J&K have received moderate to heavy snowfall, making them vulnerable to avalanches,' according to the MeT department's statement.

"People who live in these areas are urged to take precautions and avoid venturing out into avalanche-prone areas," the statement continued.

Heavy rainfall in the lowlands and snowfall in the higher altitudes have worsened cold wave conditions over the Jammu and Kashmir region, causing regular life to grind to a halt.

Traffic on the 278-kilometer-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway has also been halted for the time being. Many locations along the route, including Karol, Samroli, Digdole, and Ramsu, have reported firing stones and mudslides from the slopes overlooking the roadway.

Wednesday's accident on the national highway near Ramban resulted in the death of one person and the injury of another. The authorities were forced to restrict traffic on the key road when a rock from a hilltop crashed on their vehicle.

Due to severe weather, the trip to Vaishno Devi temple was also suspended will Thursday morning.

The mild snowfall also caused limited visibility and the cancellation of 37 flights from Srinagar International Airport on Wednesday.

The aircraft cancellations led to chaotic scenes at the airport as hundreds of people were left stranded. They had traveled to Kashmir to celebrate New Year amid snowfall that took occurred around Christmas in most parts in the Valley.

The IMD said in its prediction on Wednesday that the western disturbances are anticipated to exit the northern area of the nation on January 8 or 9, leading to improvement of weather conditions.

“There is no further western disturbance from 9 January forward in our monitoring. After that, the weather will improve," senior IMD Scientist RK Jenamani told news agency ANI.