Cold wave continues, all flights to Delhi cancelled

Tribune News Service & PTI

Srinagar, January 18

The Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of the cold wave as the minimum temperature stayed below the freezing point, a weather department official said Friday.

The official said the Pahalgam tourist resort was the coldest place in the Valley with the minimum temperature of -10.3°C, which was down from the previous night’s -5.1°C, the official said.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar rose Thursday night from -1.3°C and settled at -0.7°C, the official said. The Gulmarg ski resort recorded a low of -10°C on Thursday night, he said.

He said Leh in the frontier Ladakh region recorded -15.6°C, while the mercury in nearby Kargil settled at -19.2°C.

Meanwhile, the authorities at Srinagar International Airport on Friday cancelled the flights to New Delhi following bad weather and low visibility in the capital. As the weather department has issued a warning for the week, officials say it might be hard for both road and air traffic to operate.

Director, Srinagar International Airport, Akash Deep Mathur said due to bad weather in Delhi, IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia and Vistara flights scheduled for Friday were cancelled. He said some flights to other states were able to operate.

“There is a weather warning so the flight operations might be hit. Today, there was poor visibility in Delhi,” the official said.

In the last few days after the Valley witnessed snowfall, both road and air traffic has been affected.

Weather department officials said there might no respite from bad weather till January 24.

A fresh western disturbance is expected to hit Kashmir from Saturday, resulting in moderate to heavy snowfall or rain over the next four days.

Director, meteorological department, Sonam Lotus said the Valley would witnesses light to heavy snow till January 24, including in the plains. He said the residents of the avalanche-prone areas in the region had been asked to remain vigilant.

“Today, the sky was overcast across the Valley. The snow is expected to start from tonight or Saturday morning. In the plains of the Valley, there might be heavy to light snow. The flights from Srinagar have more chances of getting affected for the next five or six days. In Jammu, there is a prediction of heavy rain,” the official said.

“On January 19, the flights might be able to operate during the day but it is risky,” he added.

Rain, snow in Valley till Jan 24

• Met department director Sonam Lotus said the Valley would witness light to heavy snow till January 24
• He said the residents of the avalanche-prone areas in the region had been asked to remain vigilant