Srinagar, Jan 07: As Kashmir is reeling under the continuous grip of cold wave conditions for the past several days, Srinagar experienced its coldest night of the season, plummeting to a bone-chilling minus 5.6°C, according to officials.
Director Meteorological Department, Srinagar Centre, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that Srinagar recorded its lowest minimum temperature of the season at minus 5.6°C and maximum temperature 11.6°C.
“It is for the first time of 2023-2024 winter season that City recorded a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius. On January 13, 2021, Srinagar recorded minus 8.4°C, which is the coldest January night in the past 29 years,” Dr Ahmad.
Briefing about the details, Dr Mukhtar said on January 20, 1991, when the mercury dipped to minus 11.8°C, while lowest temperature ever recorded minus 14.4 degrees Celsius in Srinagar was recorded on January 31, 1893.
He said on January 9, there will be generally cloudy weather in plains with possibility of light Snow over isolated extreme higher reaches.
Dr. Mukhtar said that there is no significant weather activity till January 14. There is moderate to dense fog over plains of Jammu till Monday.
As per MeT officials, other valley parts are also reeling under intense cold leaving water bodies frozen, ski resort Gulmarg settled at minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam recorded minus 6.5 °C and was the coldest place in the region.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 5.0°C. Kokernag recorded a low of minus 10.3°C and Kupwara settled at minus 5.3°C.
The cold wave has resulted in the freezing of some water bodies, including the fringes of the famous Dal and Nigeen Lakes, and residential water supply pipes in many areas of the city and other towns of the Valley.
Those driving diesel vehicles found them jammed because of the freezing temperature, delaying their commutes.
Kashmir is in the middle of the 40-day intense winter period called ‘Chillai Kalan’ which started on December 21 with sub-zero night temperatures across the region. Kashmir yet to witness snowfall in plains as dry spell deepens, further dipping minimum temperatures in the Himalayan region”
Winter capital Jammu recorded the coldest night of the season as the minimum temperature dropped four notches below normal to settle at 3.4 degrees Celsius. Fog also disrupted flight and train schedules, inconveniencing many passengers.
Banihal town along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was the coldest place in Jammu region with a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius followed by Bhaderwah in Doda district which recorded a minimum of 0.2 degrees Celsius.
Katra, the famous town in Reasi district which serves as the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine, recorded a night temperature of 6 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Meanwhile, a senior official at Jammu Airport said that one IndGo flight was cancelled and one diverted while 10 others were delayed due to dense fog and poor visibility in the Jammu area and the northern region.
A Northern Railways spokesman told Rising Kashmir that that fog in Jammu badly affected the movement of several trains in the region. He disclosed that Puja Express arrived 12 hours late at Jammu station, Amarnath Express was late by six hours, Malwa Express late by four hours; Hemkund, Humsafar and Superfast by three hours; Jammu Mail, Tata Muri, Jhelum and Sealdah late by two hours while Utter Sampark Kranti, Shri Shakti and Andman Express were late by an hour.
He further disclosed that departure of Puja Express was delayed by seven hours and Andaman Express by two hours at Jammu station. Due to rescheduling of the trains, a huge rush of passengers was witnessed at the station.
The vehicular traffic has also been badly hit in Jammu, Akhnoor, Samba and Kathua areas while inter-state buses are also arriving late by 3-4 hours from various northern States in Jammu and Katra.
At Jammu Airport, many flights were delayed following the dense fog during the morning hours.
Meanwhile traffic along 270 kilometres Jammu-Srinagar National remained normal on Monday and vehicles were allowed from both sides to move to respective destinations
A traffic spokesman said on Sunday, contingent upon fair weather and favourable road conditions, both Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) would be permitted from both sides on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44). Commuters were urged to adhere to lane discipline.
Additionally, vehicular movement on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road would be permitted from both directions—Srinagar to Kargil and vice versa.
Simultaneously, vehicular movement on the Mughal road will be permitted from both directions—Poonch to Shopian and vice versa. Vehicles would be allowed from Behramgalla (Buffliaz) and Herpora (Shopian) between 1000 hrs and 1500 hrs, pending a green signal from road agencies.
