No respite from cold in Kashmir, Jammu
Fayaz Bukhari /
Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Jan 11: There was no respite from the intense cold conditions in Kashmir and many parts of Jammu, while dense fog affected seven flights and 11 trains in the winter capital today.
Valley continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures but the day temperatures settled several notches above normal. A dry and snowless winter in Kashmir has resulted in freezing nights and warmer than usual days as Srinagar’s day temperatures were over eight degrees above the normal for this time of the year.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius last night, same as the previous night. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 13 degrees Celsius , which is 6.6 degrees Celsius above normal for this time of the year for the place.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.6 degrees against minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature settled at 12.2 degree Celsius which is 6.2 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
The ski- resort of Gulmarg recorded minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, up from minus 5.0 degrees Celsius recorded the previous night while the day temperature of the place settled at 6.5 degree Celsius which is 6.1 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius while maximum temperature of the tourist place settled at 11.6 degree Celsius which is 7.5 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
The minimum temperature in Kokernag town settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius while the maximum settled at 11.6 degree Celsius which is 7.3 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
The minimum temperature of Kupwara settled at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius and the maximum at 13.6 degree Celsius which is 6.6 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of “Chilla-i-Kalan”, a 40-day harsh winter period, when a cold wave sweeps the region and temperatures drop considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies as well as water in pipes.
The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period and most areas, particularly the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall.
Fog hits 7 flights, 11 trains; 2 cancelled Kashmir has been going through a prolonged dry spell and a 79 per cent deficit in rainfall was recorded for December while there has been no precipitation in the first week of January.
There has been no snowfall in most plain areas of Kashmir, while the upper reaches of the Valley have received lesser than usual amounts of snow.
The Meteorological department has forecast mainly dry weather till January 20.
Chilli-e-Kalan’ will end on January 31. However, the cold conditions will continue after that with a 20-day ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (Small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (Baby cold).
The winter capital Jammu continued to reel under severe cold wave. Due to dense fog throughout the day today, the Sun was not visible at all. With this, the day temperature in Jammu remained about 8.6 degrees below normal. The winter capital was again colder than the summer capital- Srinagar by 4.4 degrees Celsius today.
The night temperature in Jammu, however, was 4.7 degrees Celsius, as compared to yesterday’s 4.8 degrees C. Till January 15, there is no prediction of any rain or snowfall in Jammu region, a MeT spokesman said.
He said holy township of Katra today recorded minimum temperature of 5.1 degrees C and maximum 18.0; Bhaderwah town a minimum temperature of 0.0 degrees C and maximum 17.3; Banihal town a night temperature of 5.2 and day temperature of 23.4 deg C, about 13 degrees above normal while Batote town minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees and maximum 18.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday. The weather will remain dry in the region during next four days, he added.
Meanwhile, Director Airport Authority, Jammu SK Garg said that due to fog and poor visibility during morning hours, seven flights were delayed at Jammu Airport on Thursday. However, no flight was cancelled or diverted. The departure of several flights was rescheduled, he added.
A Northern Railways spokesman said that over a dozen trains were affected with dense fog in the region today. He said Puja Express arrived 10 hours late, Malwa and Durg Express 8 hours, Jhelum Express 6 hours, Himgiri 5 hours, Shalimar and Happa Express 4 hrs while Utter Sampark Kranti and Hemkund arrived late by an hour at Jammu station.
Two trains- Kota and Madras Express were cancelled while departure of Puja Express was delayed by 7.45 hours and Himgiri by one hour and 45 minutes.
Fog continued to affect the smooth operation of vehicular traffic as well in the region during night and morning hours.
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