‘79% rainfall deficit in Dec’
*Dense fog delays 15 trains,7 flights in Jammu
Gopal Sharma / Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Jan 4: The winter capital, Jammu today recorded the day temperature equal to that of Srinagar while Kashmir got some respite from intense cold wave conditions as the minimum temperature rose slightly across the region.
Thick blanket of fog continued to engulf plain areas of Jammu region and parts of Northern India, badly affecting the train, vehicular and air traffic. At least 15 trains and seven flights were delayed, two flights cancelled and one diverted at Jammu today.
A MeT spokesman said that Jammu recorded the day temperature of 10.6 degrees Celsius which was equal to that of Srinagar today. It was about 7.4 degrees Celsius below normal.
However, as per Chatha observatory of SKUAST, Jammu today’s maximum temperature at winter capital was 9.8 degrees C which indicates 0.8 deg below that of Srinagar. The minimum temperature remained 4.0 degree Celsius, indicating three degrees fall in yesterday’s temperature in the winter capital.
Chief Scientist at Meteorology Department, SKUAST- Jammu, Dr Mahinder said Jammu’s temperature will further fall in next three days but the foggy weather conditions will continue for the next some days. He said the elderly people and children must take maximum precautions during such weather, moreover, farmers must do sprinkling of water on their crops and protect small fruit plants from the frost by covering with dry grass or stubble (Parali). Click here to watch video
A senior officer at Jammu Airport said that 15 flights operated from this airport today. He said two flights were cancelled while one evening flight scheduled from Srinagar to Mumbai via Jammu, was diverted to Delhi due to foggy weather and poor visibility at Jammu airport.
A Northern Railways spokesman said that 15 trains arrived late today while departure of Puja Express was delayed by five hours today at Jammu station.
He disclosed that Humsafar Express arrived 11 hours late at Jammu station, Puja Express 10 hours late, Burfani Express was late by 8 hours; Malwa Express (Indore-Jammu), Jhelum (Pune –Jammu) and Durg Express arrived 6 hours late, Sealdah Exp 5 hrs, Utter Sampark Kranti and Madras Express late by 4 hours, Happa by three hours; Hemkund, Jammu Mail, Tata Muri and Himgiri late by two hours while Shri Shakti (Delhi-Katra), arrived late by an hour.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature stayed several degrees below freezing point in Kashmir and the water bodies, including Dal lake, froze overnight.
A thin layer of ice had formed over the surface of Dal lake as Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius last night.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, up from the previous night’s minus 6.6 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius while Kokernag town saw the minimum settle at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a minimum of minus 3.9 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperatures in Srinagar, Qazigund, Pahalgam, Kupwara, Kokernag and Gulmarg were recorded at 10.6 degrees Celsius, 10.2 degrees Celsius, 10.1 degrees Celsius, 11.7 degrees Celsius, 8.4 degrees Celsius and 5.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Holy township of Katra recorded a maximum temperature of 17.5 degrees Celsius and minimum 6.2 degrees; Bhaderwah minimum 1.1 degrees C and maximum 13.1 degrees; Batote minimum 3.1 degrees and maximum 13.6 deg C while Banihal maximum 15.6 deg and minimum -0.4 degrees C temperature today.
Dense fog continued in Jammu since early morning paralyzing movement of normal traffic. The vehicles were moving with their headlights/dippers on during morning hours. During this evening as well, the thick clouds of fog had enveloped Jammu city and its outskirts.
Kashmir has been going through a prolonged dry spell with no precipitation forecast over the next few days with December month being a 79 per cent deficit in rainfall.
There has been no snowfall in most plain areas of Kashmir while upper reaches of the Valley have also received lesser than usual amounts of snow by the end of December.
The open sky has resulted in the minimum temperature sliding further in most parts, including Srinagar.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the Dal lake as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the Valley.
The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period and most areas, especially the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall. ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ will end on January 31.
However, the cold conditions will continue after that with a 20-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) followed by 10-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (Baby cold).
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