![Freezing conditions as Srinagar records minimum temperature of minus 5.2 degrees celsius on Monday. -Excelsior/Shakeel Freezing conditions as Srinagar records minimum temperature of minus 5.2 degrees celsius on Monday. -Excelsior/Shakeel](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/page1-3-1-696x532.jpg)
Fog hits train, air traffic in Jammu
Fayaz Bukhari/ Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Jan 1: The new year in Kashmir began with severe cold weather conditions with temperature across the region dipping while in Jammu dense fog continued to affect train, vehicular and air-traffic.
Srinagar recorded season’s low of minus 5.2°C temperature today while Jammu also witnessed sharp fall in the temperature as compared to last couple of days.
A MeT official said that the minimum temperature in Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.2°C against minus 3.4°C the previous night and it was 3.1°C below normal for the city for this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 3.6°C against minus 2.6°C the previous night. The minimum temperature was 0.7°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.7°C against minus 3.4°C the previous night and it was 0.9°C above normal for the resort. Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 1.7°C against minus 1.4°C the previous night and the temperature was above normal by 1.8°C for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against minus 3.5°C the previous night and the temperature was 3.5°C above normal for the skiing resort.
Kashmir valley is under ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter, which will end on January 30. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
Weatherman has predicted mainly dry weather till January 3. From January 4-5, he said, generally cloudy and dry weather is expected. “Overall no significant weather activity is expected till January 5.”
Meanwhile, in Jammu and other parts of northern region, fog continued to affect train, vehicular and air- traffic.
An official spokesman said that due to foggy weather conditions during morning hours, at least eight flights were delayed at Jammu airport. However, the weather improved after 11. 30 am and all the 16 scheduled flights operated on Monday. No flight was cancelled or diverted today, the spokesman added.
A Northern Railways spokesman said that Puja Express arrived 11 hours late at Jammu Railway Station today, Mourdhwaj Exp was late by 7 hours, Jhelum Express and Tata Muri by 5 hours, Malwa Express by 4 hours, Madras Exp by 3 hours, Shalimar Exp by two hours while Jammu Mail and Rajdhani by one hour.
The departure of Puja Express train was delayed by 7 hours today at Jammu Railway Station. Rush of passengers continued ay Jammu station for the last over one week due to rescheduling of the train timings, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, due to continuous fog, the inter-state buses are also arriving late by two to three hours at Jammu from various cities of north India. During morning hours, the fog in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, hit normal traffic. The weather improved only after 11 am.
A MeT official said that winter capital recorded a minimum temperature of 7.3 degree C and maximum 13.2 deg C as compared to yesterday’s 14.6 deg C.
Holy township of Katra recorded a minimum temperature of 7.1 deg C, Bhaderwah 0.6 deg C, Banihal town minus 0.8 deg C, Batote 3.1 deg C while Kathua town 9.6 deg C temperature today.