Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 25: While the cold wave continued to sweep northern region, Jammu’s day temperature considerably came down whereas, the foggy weather conditions today affected train and air traffic.
A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the State today and some isolated area of higher reaches may experience some rain and snowfall while in most parts of the State, the weather would remain cold and dry.
With the fresh snowfall at hill resort of Patnitop of Jammu region two days back, the tourists flow to this place has increased. In view of weekend holiday (Sunday) a heavy rush of tourists was witnessed at Natha Top and Patnitop today. Even the policemen and Traffic cops had to regulate the traffic in this belt due to massive flow of light vehicles today.
Since last night thick clouds of fog were again witnessed in the plain areas of Jammu region. The foggy weather in most parts of the northern region badly affected train service as many trains arrived six to two hour late. The vehicular traffic was also hit due to thick envelop of fog during morning hours in Jammu, Samba and Kathua belt.
With the sharp fall in Jammu’s day temperature, the mercury settled at 11.5 degree C compared to yesterday’s temperature of 19.4 degree C in the winter capital. The minimum temperature remained 5.7 degree C while it was 5.9 degree C yesterday.
Meawhile, the residents of Ladakh region experienced relief from intense cold conditions as the mercury rose by around seven degrees there, even as the Met Department said a fresh western disturbance would affect Jammu and Kashmir today.
“A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the State today,” an official from Met Department said. He said the weather would remain dry and cold in Ladakh region, while there was possibility of rain or snow at isolated places in Kashmir.
Kargil town of Ladakh region was the coldest recorded place in the State. The mercury there increased by seven degrees as the minimum temperature settled at minus 10.0 degree Celsius compared to minus 17.0 degree Celsius the previous night, the spokesman said.
He said Leh recorded a low of minus 8.0 degree Celsius, up by nearly seven degree from minus 14.4 degree Celsius, yesterday.
Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, recorded the minimum temperature of 1.6 degree Celsius compared to the previous night’s minus 0.8 degree Celsius.
He further disclosed that the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, the star attraction for tourists especially skiers from across the country and abroad, recorded a low of minus 7.6 degree Celsius, as against minus 8.4 degree Celsius the previous night. A large number of fresh tourists have arrived there after recent snowfall.
The famous south Kashmir hill resort of Pahalgam, registered a minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degree Celsius, over four degrees up from the previous night’s minus 6.6 degree Celsius, the spokesman said.
He said Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley in south, recorded a low of minus 2.2 degree Celsius against minus 1.7 degree Celsius yesterday.
Kupwara, in north Kashmir, registered a minimum of zero degree Celsius, while Kokernag, in south, recorded a low of minus 3.0 degree Celsius.
Bhaderwah tourist resort of Jammu region in Doda district recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.6 degree C, Katra Mata Vaishnodevi a minimum temperature of 7.7 degree C, Banihal minus 0.3 degree C while Udhampur town 4.6 degree Celsius today.
DySP Airport Jammu, Mr Raina disclosed that due to fog and bad weather first two flights IndiGo and Spicejet were late by an hour while all other flights operated as per schedule. He said the first IndiGo flight could land at Jammu airport only around 11.20 am while its scheduled time is around 10 am. The visibility was poor at the airbase during morning hours today, he maintained.
A Northern Railway spokesman said that several trains were arriving late here since morning. He said Pooja, Jhelum Express, Varanasi, Tata Moori and several other trains were late by four to five hours. However, the departure time of almost all the trains remained unchanged.
A senior Traffic police official said that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was through for one way traffic and tomorrow one way traffic from Srinagar to Jammu will be allowed. However, there is no restriction for the traffic towards Doda and Kishtwar.
Follow our WhatsApp channel