Fog hits train, air traffic
Gopal Sharma / Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Jan 2: The month long dry spell ended today as parts of the Valley received fresh snowfall, bringing respite to the people from bone-chilling cold and the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed due to snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area while, due to fog, several flights and trains were delayed in Jammu.
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Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Pir Panjal and hills in Bhaderwah and Poonch experienced a fresh snowfall today. Unlike other areas, Srinagar received light rainfall this afternoon. Gulmarg experienced one feet of snow, Tangmarg 6 inches, Sadna Top 2 feet, Tanghdar 6 inches, Macchil 4 feet, Gurez one feet, Tulail one feet and Razdhan top 2 feet.
Seven to eight inches of snowfall was recorded at Jawahar Tunnel area along the National Highway that led to closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in view of slippery conditions in the sector. No traffic was allowed on the road from Jammu to Srinagar today. However, if the weather improves, the traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar tomorrow.
The Bandipora-Gurez, Kupwara-Tanghdar and Kupwara-Keran roads were closed for the vehicular movement by the authorities due to snowfall.
Due to heavy snowfall on the hills of Poonch and Rajouri, Mughal Road and Rajouri-Thannamandi-Poonch Road were also closed today. Reports of snowfall have also been reported from Bhaderwah, Patnitop, Nathatop and Dera Gali and parts of Bani-Sarthal area today.
A Meteorological Depar-tment official said that the next western disturbance (WD) will most likely affect the State from evening of January 4 to 6. “There is possibility of moderate rain or snowfall at widespread places of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh. There is possibility of heavy snowfall at isolated places with maximum intensity and spread on 4 and 5 January and gradual decrease thereafter”, he said.
The MeT official said that there will be significant fall in day temperature while as the night temperature would rise slightly.
The fresh snowfall across Kashmir except Srinagar has resulted in rise in the night temperature. Srinagar recorded 0.0 degrees Celsius temperature, an increase of over four degrees from minus 4.2 degrees Celsius on the previous night. The day temperature of the summer capital settled at 6.5 degrees Celsius.
Kargil was the coldest place in the State at minus 17.0 degrees Celsius. The night temperature in Leh town in Ladakh region was minus 12.4 degrees Celsius. The day temperatures of these places settled at minus 1.5 degrees Celsius and 3.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a minimum of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius while the day temperature settled at 2.6 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, as per the communication of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, there is a danger of avalanches from January 2 -3 in avalanche prone areas of Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Leh and Kargil districts of Kashmir division.
Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts have been asked to advise people not to venture out in avalanche prone areas during the period.
Besides, the DCs have also been asked to take precautionary measures and to keep the SDRF, Police, para-medical staff with ambulances in readiness to avert any untoward incident.
Due to bad weather during morning hours, the chopper service between Katra base camp and Mata Vaishndevi shrine remained suspended. The service could be resumed only after 11 AM.
The traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained suspended due to snowfall in Jawahar tunnel area while after heavy snowfall at Peer Ki Gali and Dera Gali in Rajouri and Poonch, the Mughal Road and Rajouri-Bafliaz-Surankote Road also remained closed. Reports of heavy snowfall have also been received from Sinthon Top in Kishtwar, Sarthal area of Bani in Kathua, higher reaches of Dudu- Basantgarh in Udhampur and Bhaderwah and Kishtwar.
Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 16.6 degrees Celsius and minimum 9.6 deg C, Katra town 15.5 deg C and 9.2 deg C, Bhaderwah maximum 11.0 deg C and minimum 1.3 deg c , Kathua 15.8 deg c and minimum 6/8 deg C whereas registered Banihal town maximum 11.7 deg C and minimum 2.4 degrees C.
An official spokesman said that due to poor visibility near Jammu airport and the region, Go Air, Indigo and Air India flights were delayed by one to one and half hours today.
He said due to fog, Jhelum Express train was late by 2 hours, Archna Express by 11 hours, Allahabad -Udhampur Express by 3 hrs, Utter Sampark Kranti by an hour, Kamkhya Express by 2.30 hrs, Kolkatta Sealdah by 2.30 hrs, Kathgodam Garib Rath by 1.45 hrs, Durg- Jammu Tawi and Begumpura Express by one hour, Lohit Express by 5 hrs, Tata Moorie by 2 hrs and Malwa Express by two hours today.
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