Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Jan 18: While 15 trains and 11 flights were affected with the fog in Jammu region, the night temperature dropped at most places in Kashmir today as the cold-wave conditions intensified again after a day’s respite.
The day temperature in Jammu has shown improvement with the Sun shining for the last couple of days, whereas, a dry and largely snowless winter in Kashmir has resulted in freezing nights and warmer than usual days as Srinagar’s day temperature was over eight degrees above the normal for this time of the year.
An official spokesman said that 15 flights operated at Jammu Airport today and there has been significant improvement in the visibility. However, due to fog during morning hours in Jammu and other parts of the northern region, 11 flights were delayed today. He further disclosed that five IndiGo, three Spicejet, two Air India and one Vistara flights were delayed at Jammu airport on Thursday.
A Northern Railways spokesman said that 15 trains arrived late than their original schedule at Jammu station today. He said Jhelum Express was late by 11 hours, Durg Express by 8 hours, Malwa Exp late by 6 hours; Puja Express, Sealdah and Himgiri by 5 hours; Begumpura, Shalimar and Tata Muri were late by 4 hours; Jamnagar Express, Himgiri and Uttar Sampark Kranti by three hours while Shri Shakti, Humsafar and Vande Bharat arrived late by one hour at Jammu Station.
He said one train- Tirunelveli Express (16788) was cancelled while departure of Durg Express was delayed by 4 hours and Jhelum Express by 1.20 hours today.
Meanwhile, Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius last night, dropping from the previous night’s minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees while in the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir it was minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Kokernag town settled at minus 0.8 degrees Celsius and in Kupwara at minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperatures in Kashmir continued to be several notches above normal today.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 12.5 degree Celsius temperature today which was 6.1 degree Celsius above normal for the city for this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a maximum of 13.2 degree Celsius which is 6.9 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Pahalgam recorded a maximum of 10.2 degree Celsius which is 6.2 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Kupwara recorded a maximum of 13.5 degree Celsius which is 6.9 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Kokernag recorded a maximum of 11.5 degree Celsius which is 7.0 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Gulmarg recorded a maximum of 5.4 degree Celsius which is 4.7 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Winter capital Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 19.4 degrees Celsius and minimum 5.7 deg C, Holy township of Katra a maximum temperature of 19.0 deg and minimum 6.2 deg C, Bhaderwah town a minimum temperature of -0.3 degrees and maximum 14.6 deg while Banihal town day temperature of 16.4 and night temperature of -0.8 degrees Celsius today.
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.
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 forthnight 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.
‘Chilla-i-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).
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