Srinagar: While cold intensified across valley, foggy conditions that prevailed all through Sunday, led to total disruption of air traffic leading to cancelling of all the 28 scheduled flights from Srinagar Airport.
Director Airport Srinagar, Santosh Dhoke, told Kashmir Reader that all 28 flights were cancelled due to the poor visibility.
“Low visibility continued to be below 600 meters throughout the day due to which all flights were cancelled,” Dhoke said
The minimum visibility required for the operation of flights during foggy days is 1,000 meters which, however, has been less than 600 meters.
Cold too intensified, across the valley with Srinagar witnessing the coldest night so far, recording minus 4 degrees, almost -3.4 degrees below normal. Also, peripheries of Dal lake froze due to fall in temperature.
Director Metrological Department, Sonam Lotus told Kashmir Reader that the low visibility may begin to improve from Wednesday due to the approaching western disturbances.
“We will have to face low visibility on Monday too. From Wednesday western disturbance is expected to clear this fog, and bring a new spell of rain and snowfall,” he added.
The foggy condition also led vehicles on roads to move slowly with headlights on.
Meanwhile, as per the officials, night temperatures at Qazigund were recorded at minus 3.5.
In North Kashmir’s Kupwara district temperature was recorded minus 5.7, while as in Phalgham it was recorded minus 6.3.
The minimum temperature in ski-resort of Gulmarg was recorded minus 5.6 while in Kokernag it was recorded at minus 4.0
However, in Drass minimum temperature was recorded minus 26.0 and in Leh it was recorded minus 16.0.

NAZIMA SIDIQ