Fog hits 8 flights at Jammu Airport
Gopal Sharma/Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jan 4: After sunny weather during the day, Gulmarg, its adjoining areas and other higher reaches in the region received fresh snowfall this evening while Kashmir reels under cold weather conditions with minimum temperatures settling below freezing across the region.
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Jammu and its plain areas including Samba and Kathua continued to be under the cover of dense fog, causing disruption in the smooth movement of air, train and vehicular traffic. Eight flights were delayed at Jammu Airport today due to dense fog and poor visibility.
Director Airport Authority, Jammu, Devender Yadav said that eight flights including five Indigo, two Air India Express and one Air India were delayed today. He said the visibility was very poor during morning hours over the skies in Jammu area. As the weather improved after 11.30 am, the flights started operating.
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Yadav said total 30 flights operated from Jammu airport today and there was no cancellation. Even no flight was diverted on Sunday, he added.
Meanwhile, it was a sunny day at Gulmarg today but during evening it started snowing at the ski resort much to the delight of tourists and visitors. Around 3 inches of snow had accumulated in Gulmarg so far and the light snowfall was going on till late this evening.
Thousands of visitors got stranded on Gulmarg-Tangmarg road as the snowfall led to skidding of vehicles and traffic jam. Police and administration were trying to clear the traffic jam.
Snowfall was also recorded in adjoining areas of Gulmarg – Tangmarg and Drung- while elsewhere in Valley the weather was dry today.
In some of the higher reaches of Pir Panjal, and Seoj Dhar in Doda and Bhaderwah areas reports of fresh snowfall have been received this evening.
Tourists in Gulmarg said the snowfall made their visit memorable. “We were eagerly waiting for snowfall, and it has made our visit very special. Gulmarg looks extremely beautiful,” a tourist from Delhi said.
Visitors in Drung shared similar excitement. “This is our first snowfall experience. The weather and scenery are amazing, and we are enjoying every moment here,” another tourist said.
Tourist resort of Bhaderwah in Jammu division also witnessed arrival of hundreds of tourists today as the BRO cleared Pathankot-Basohli-Bani-Bhaderwah road on Saturday. Rush of tourists from outside the UT was witnessed at Guldanda and adjoining scenic spots in Bhaderwah today.
The Meteorological Department said snowfall may continue in the higher reaches, but the plains are likely to stay dry ahead.
“Higher areas may receive light snowfall, while the weather in the plains is expected to remain dry at present,” an official said.
With the dry weather prevailing across the region, the temperatures across the region were recorded below freezing.
Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 3.2 degree Celsius and maximum of 9.6 degree Celsius today. Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 4.0 degree Celsius and maximum of 9.0 degree Celsius.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum of minus 4.0 degree Celsius and maximum of 4.8 degree Celsius temperature, Kupwara recorded a minimum of minus 2.5 degree Celsius and maximum of 10. 1 degree Celsius, Kokernag a minimum of minus 1.6 degree Celsius and maximum of 7.5 degree C while Gulmarg recorded a minimum of minus 6.5 degree Celsius and maximum of 1.0 degree Celsius temperature on Sunday.
Winter capital Jammu recorded a day temperature of 14.2 degree Celsius and 10.0 during night. Katra town recorded a minimum temperature of 7 degree C and maximum 13.6 deg C on Sunday.
Bhaderwah town recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.6 degree C and maximum 10.5 degree, Batote minimum 1.9 and maximum 12.3 while Banihal registered minimum temperature of minus 0.9 degree C today.
Kishtwar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.9 deg C, Doda 1.9 deg, Rajouri 2.5, Udhampur 5.2 degree while Reasi 8.0 degree C on Sunday.
Jammu is currently under the grip of cold wave and the day temperature has gone low. During the day the Sun was hardly visible due to fog. It was nearly cloudy day today. The vehicular traffic was affected due to fog during morning hours.
An official spokesman said that train service was also hit due to fog on Sunday. About half a dozen trains including Vande Bharat and Utter Sampark Kranti besides a few others long distance trains arrived late at Jammu station. However, the departure time of most of the trains except Vande Bharat remained unchanged.
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