* Mercury plunges below freezing point in Kashmir
Gopal Sharma/
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Jan 14: The winter capital Jammu recorded coldest night of the season while its day temperature remained about 6 degrees below that of Srinagar, whereas, five flights were cancelled and 12 trains delayed due to dense fog in Jammu region.
Jammu recorded a night temperature of 2.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which was lowest of this season so far, against 4.6 degrees Celsius yesterday, a MeT spokesman said.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 14.6 degrees Celsius while Jammu, as per Chatha observatory of SKUAST, recorded a day temperature of 8.5 degrees Celsius today. It indicates that Jammu was 6.1 deg C colder than Srinagar on Sunday. It is happening for the last over one week due to fog in the region. There is Sun shine in many parts of Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu, the day temperature remains several notches above than that of Jammu these days.
Holy township of Katra recorded a day temperature of 19. 3 degrees C and minimum 5.4, Bhaderwah maximum temperature of 17.4 and minimum 1.1 deg C, Banihal town a day temperature of 19.0 and night temperature of -0.8 while Batote town recorded a day temperature of 17.4 degrees and night 3.9 degrees C today.
Intense cold and foggy weather conditions continued to sweep plain areas of Jammu region besides adjoining Himachal, Punjab and Haryana. Due to dense fog and poor visibility, several flights and trains have been badly affected in the northern region.
An official from Jammu Airport said that due to fog, five flights were cancelled today. These include- three Air India and two IndiGo flights. Eleven other flights were delayed due to fog at Jammu. Most of them were morning flights hit by poor visibility. These include six IndiGo, two Air India, two SpiceJet and one Vistara flights.
Meanwhile, cold wave conditions returned to Kashmir today as the mercury plunged several degrees below freezing point after a day’s respite provided by a feeble western disturbance yesterday.
A dry and largely 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 maximum of 14.6 degree Celsius temperature today which was 8.2 degree Celsius above normal for the city for this time of the year. Qazigund recorded a maximum of 14.8 degree Celsius which is 8.8 degree Celsius above normal for the place.
Pahalgam recorded a maximum of 12.6 degree Celsius which is 8.5 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year. Kupwara recorded a maximum of 14.8 degree Celsius which is 8.3 degree Celsius above normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a maximum of 8.8 degree Celsius which is 8.4 degree Celsius above normal for the place, while Kokernag recorded a maximum of 13.4 degree Celsius which is 9.1 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, 4.4 degrees less than Friday’s 0.2 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Kokernag town settled at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius and in Kupwara at minus 4 degrees Celsius.
The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period and most areas, particularly the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall. 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 most parts of the Valley in the first fortnight 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 amount of snow. The Meteorological department has forecast mainly dry weather till January 21.
Meanwhile, a Northern Railways spokesman at Jammu said that one train was cancelled and 12 others were delayed due to dense fog and poor visibility in the parts of Jammu and the northern region. He said Kota Express (19804) train was cancelled today and the departure of Puja Express from Jammu station was delayed by 8.45 hours.
The spokesman further disclosed that arrival of Puja Express train at Jammu station was delayed by 17 hours, Tata Muri Exp and MCTM Superfast by 12 hours, Jhelum and Malwa Express by 10 hours; Sarvodya, Amarnath and Uttar Sampark Kranti arrived late by 5 hours while Sealdah, Hemkund and Shrishakti Express arrived late at Jammu station by two hours today.
Due to continuous fog during the whole night and morning hours till almost 12 noon, the vehicular traffic was also badly effected during the last fortnight. The inter-state bus service is also badly hit due to poor visibility and many buses from several cities of north India area are arriving late at Jammu and Katra by 4-5 hours.
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