Air, train traffic hit; 4 flights cancelled
Gopal Sharma/
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 31: While fog continued to hit air, train and vehicular traffic in Jammu region, resulting in cancellation of four flights today, fresh snowfall blanketed several areas in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir with the Meteorological department forecasting light to moderate precipitation at most places over the next 24 hours.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
In view of a cloud cover, the night temperatures remained higher than the seasonal average and settled above the freezing point at most places in Kashmir, while Jammu’s day temperature has significantly dropped.
Click here to watch video
As the cover of dense fog continued to envelop Jammu region and parts of Punjab, Harayana, and Delhi, it caused severe impact on the air and train traffic. Many inter-state buses and trains are arriving late.
Director, Airport Authority, Jammu, Devender Yadav said that due to bad weather and poor visibility, four flights were cancelled and two delayed at Jammu Airport today. He said total 16 flights operated from this airport on Wednesday after weather improved but no flight was diverted.
Several flights at Srinagar Airport were cancelled today due to operational issues and adverse weather conditions, an official said. The cancelled flights include IndiGo flight 6E-6164/6165, Air India flights AI-3423/3421 operating between Delhi and Jammu, AI-3422/3424 between Jammu and Delhi, and AI-2431/2434 operating from Leh. A SpiceJet flight SG-160/161 from Delhi was also cancelled.
He said one of the Air India flights was cancelled due to bad weather conditions in Delhi, while the SpiceJet flight was cancelled due to operational reasons.
“Weather conditions are expected to remain partly cloudy from January 7 to January 8, partly to generally cloudy on January 9 and 10, and partly cloudy from January 11 to January 13,” a MeT official said.
In view of cloud cover, the night temperatures remained higher than the seasonal average and settled above the freezing point at most places, he said.
Despite the fresh snow in the hills, the valley continues to experience an unusually warm winter, with temperatures remaining three to seven degrees above the seasonal average.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.3 degrees Celsius, which is 4.9 degrees Celsius above the normal for this time of year.
Gulmarg remained the coldest location in the region with the mercury settling at minus 3.0 degrees Celsius, officials said.
The night temperature remained almost three degrees above the usual temperature.
In south Kashmir, Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius – seven degrees above the normal temperature, and Qazigund, saw the mercury settle at 1.4 degrees Celsius.
The region is currently going through ‘Chilla-e-Kalan’, a 40-day period of extreme cold. During this phase, night temperatures typically drop between three and eight degrees below the freezing point. However, current readings show a departure from normal patterns.
According to Chief Scientist, SKUAST Jammu, Dr Mahender, Singh Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 8.0 deg C, and maximum 13.6 deg C today. He said on December 6, this month, Jammu recorded a lowest temperature of 3.0 deg C, while it was 3.6 deg C on Dec 7 and 9.
Meanwhile, Bhaderwah recorded a minimum temperature of 4.0 deg C, Katra 10.9, Banihal 5.9, Reasi 10.8, Doda 9.9, Rajouri 7 while Samba registered 6.7 degrees today.
A northern Railway spokesman said that more than half a dozen trains arrived late by about half an hour to six hours at Jammu station since early morning today. However all the trains operated. The vehicular movement was also badly hit due to dense fog today.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
