Fresh snow, 24 flights cancelled

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 13

After fresh snowfall in the Valley, 24 flights were cancelled from the Srinagar International Airport due to poor visibility. Only 20 flights were able to operate, officials said.

Fresh snowfall hit the Valley on Wednesday morning. However, the weather started improving since the afternoon. The Meteororlogical Department has predicted mostly a dry weather for the week ahead with isolated rain or snow.

The long dry spell ended in the Valley this week as snowfall and rain lashed mountains as well as plains for the past two days.

“There will be occasional light rain or snow. The maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 6°Celsius and 0°C, respectively on December 14,” the MeT forecast said.

The fresh snowfall affected the air traffic since the morning as the visibility dropped to 500 m. Due to the improvement in conditions in the afternoon, some flights were able to operate from the airport. On Tuesday, six flights were cancelled due to bad weather.

“Twenty flights operated and 24 were cancelled today,” said Sharad Kumar, Director, Srinagar International Airport. The MeT officials said the current weather pattern would continue for 24 hours more.

“This weather system will remain for the next 24 hours while there will be snow in higher reaches and rain coupled with snow in plains of the state,” an official said.

While Leh shivered at minus 6.5° Celsius, Kargil recorded a minimum of minus 5.8° Celsius.

Srinagar recorded minus 0.7°, Pahalgam minus 2.1°, Jammu 8.8°, Katra 8.2°, Batote 1.1°, Banihal 0.6°, Bhaderwah 0.4° and Udhampur 8° Celsius, the department said. The tourist resort of Gulmarg also received fresh snowfall and the temperature remained below normal.