Fog disrupts air traffic in Kashmir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 9

The air traffic to the Kashmir valley was again disrupted on Friday due to low visibility caused by foggy weather as the region registered a significant dip in night temperature.

The disruption caused cancellation of 18 flights scheduled to arrive and depart from the Srinagar’s only civilian airport here, a senior official said.

Sharad Kumar, the director of Srinagar International Airport, said 18 flights scheduled to arrive and depart were cancelled due to poor visibility. The official said six flights operated during the morning hours before the visibility deteriorated.

The disruption forced hundreds of passengers to opt for road travel. The frequent disruption of the air traffic during the past month has renewed demand for installation of the Instrumentation Landing System, which allows landing of passenger flights in adverse climatic conditions.

Srinagar International Airport is the only civilian airport in the Valley and hosts flights from six passenger airlines. The disruptions in air traffic last month had affected nearly 50,000 passengers.

The cancellation of flights in the region has come at a time when the region is heading for a harsh winter with night-time temperatures already plunging several degrees below the freezing point.

The overnight temperature in Srinagar city was a low of -3.4°Celsius, which was three degrees below the average temperature for this time of the season. The air traffic is likely to remain affected tomorrow also as the state weather department forecast suggested there would be no major change in the city’s weather. The department, however, said there was a possibility of rain and thunderstorm tomorrow evening and on Sunday, which could clear the fog and improve the visibility.