Srinagar, Dec 28: Kashmir remained in grip of a severe cold wave with thick fog for the fourth straight day on Thursday, causing disruptions in daily life. Reduced visibility in Srinagar is making it challenging for commuters. The met department has forecasted generally cloudy conditions with a possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches during the next 24 hours.
The reduced visibility resulted in traffic disruption on roads, with vehicles moving at slower speeds, while several flights at Srinagar airport were delayed for the fourth straight day. After 2 PM, people had a sigh of relief as visibility improved in Srinagar and its adjoining areas.
Director Meteorological department, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that weather will remain generally dry with moderate to dense fog over Central Kashmir, plains of Baramulla, Ganderbal and Pulwama dist. till 31st December.
“There is a possibility of light snow over higher reaches during the night of 31st December. While from 1st-2ndJanuary, weather will remain generally dry and again from 3rd-4th January, there are chances of light rain and snowfall at isolated to scattered places in the Himalayan region,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minimum night temperatures were below zero on the intervening night of and Wednesday and Tuesday as well in the Valley.
As per MeT data, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.3°C and Gulmarg settled at minus 2.6°C, Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 3.8°C, Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.4°C.
Jammu recorded a minimum of 5.8°C against 7.6°C on previous night, and it was below normal by 1.6°C for the winter capital of J&K. Banihal recorded a low of 9.2°C, Batote 6.2°C and Bhaderwah 2.0°C, he said.
Following dense fog the morning flights at Srinagar International Airport were delayed. Director Srinagar International Airport, Javed Anjum told Rising Kashmir that the airport experienced delays in morning flights due to foggy weather conditions. However, after visibility improved flights operated normally later in the day, he said.
While many passengers have to wait for several hours at the airport due to low visibility. Meanwhile, a Jammu-bound Vistara flight returned to Srinagar on Thursday afternoon due to bad weather conditions in Jammu, the airline said. The flight UK611 from Srinagar to Jammu returned to Srinagar due to poor weather at Jammu airport.
“Flight UK611 from Srinagar to Jammu (SXR-IXJ) has returned to Srinagar (SXR) due to bad weather at Jammu airport and is expected to arrive in Srinagar at 1630 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates,” Vistara Airlines posted on X. Airport spokesman at Jammu said that some flights were delayed till late 1 Pm and after that all flights operated.
12 trains were delayed at the Jammu Tawi Railway Station as well, amid low visibility. Most trains were running late for more than two hours. Hundreds of passengers at Jammu tawi stations were seen waiting for their trains amid cold weather.
The traffic department has appealed to people to exercise caution during their travels, emphasizing the importance of safety measures in the current weather conditions.
A traffic police said subject to fair weather and good road conditions, LMVs Passenger/Private Cars/HMVs/Load Carriers shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) on Friday. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline.
The spokesman said security forces vehicles shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa.
The vehicular movement on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road shall be allowed from both sides viz Srinagar towards Kargil and vice-versa.
“LMVs followed by HMVs shall be allowed from Minamarg towards Srinagar between 0830 hrs. to 1100 hrs. Similarly, LMVs followed by HMVs shall be allowed from Sonamarg towards Kargil between 1230 hrs to 1530 hrs. No vehicle shall be allowed after cut off timings.”
SFs Convoy, plying from Srinagar to Kargil, shall leave Srinagar at 0800 hrs. SFs Convoy plying from Drass to Srinagar shall plan their movement in such a manner so that Civil Traffic doesn’t get disturbed, he said.
