After prolonged dry weather, Banihal town and its adjoining areas in District Ramban experienced the first snowfall of the season on Friday morning, bringing relief and excitement among residents and visitors alike. Meanwhile, the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was closed for traffic as a precautionary measure in view of inclement weather conditions. Much to the delight of tourists, snowfall greeted them as they stepped out of their train at Banihal Railway Station in Ramban district. Many visitors were seen enjoying the fresh snow, calling themselves fortunate to witness snowfall during their journey. Banihal town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district is currently witnessing the season’s first snowfall, as the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas donned a white cover after a long dry spell. Besides Banihal town, areas around the Jawahar Tunnel and Banihal–Qazigund tunnel also received snowfall. The higher reaches of Banihal, including Mahu Mangit, Pogal-Paristan, and other nearby areas, witnessed heavy snowfall. Tourists at Banihal Railway Station were seen enjoying the snow, with many experiencing snowfall for the first time in their lives. Visitors from Kolkata and other parts of the country witnessed snowflakes and snow accumulation at the railway station while travelling towards their destinations. Many described the experience as mesmerizing. Tourism stakeholders in Banihal expressed happiness over the first snowfall of the season, stating that it attracts a large number of tourists to the relatively unexplored areas of Banihal. Meanwhile, SSP Traffic Police (National Highway) Raja Adil Hamid said that vehicular movement on NH-44 has been temporarily halted at safer locations as a precautionary measure due to ongoing rain and snowfall, which have made road conditions slippery.