Harsh winter conditions tightened their grip on Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday as dense fog disrupted transport in Jammu while most parts of the Kashmir Valley shivered under intense cold, recording sub-zero temperatures.
In Jammu, dense fog severely affected air and rail traffic. Flight operations at Jammu Airport remained disrupted from early morning due to poor visibility, leading to multiple delays and rescheduling. Passengers faced inconvenience as airlines struggled to operate amid adverse weather. Rail services were also impacted, with several trains running three to four hours late. Railway officials attributed the delays to widespread fog across northern India.
The Kashmir Valley continued to reel under a severe cold wave, with temperatures plunging well below freezing. Shopian emerged as the coldest place, recording minus 7.5°C, followed by Pulwama at minus 7.0°C and Sopore at minus 6.9°C. Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 5.2°C, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport dropped further to minus 6.0°C. Other areas such as Anantnag, Awantipora, Kupwara and Pahalgam also experienced biting cold conditions.
Tourist destinations were not spared. Gulmarg recorded minus 3.8°C, while Sonamarg and Baramulla witnessed temperatures of minus 2.2°C and minus 1.8°C respectively.
In contrast, the Jammu region recorded night temperatures mostly above freezing, though cold conditions persisted. Jammu city registered 4.0°C, while Rajouri was the coldest in the region at minus 0.6°C.
Slippery roads and reduced visibility made commuting difficult, with vehicles moving slowly using headlights. To cope with the cold, roadside vendors were seen burning firewood, while shops installed heaters for customers.
The Meteorological Department warned that foggy conditions in the Jammu plains and sub-zero temperatures in Kashmir are likely to continue over the next few days. While largely dry weather is expected in the immediate period, light rain or snowfall is forecast later in the month, particularly over higher reaches.
