SRINAGAR: Severe cold wave conditions intensified further in Jammu and Kashmir as Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded the season’s coldest night at minus 1.8 degree Celsius on Wednesday.
A Meteorological Department official told local news gathering agency GNS that there was a drop by 0.6°C in minimum temperature in Srinagar against minus 1.2°C on the previous night. The temperature was minus 1.9°C below normal for this time of the year in the capital city, he said.
Most parts of the city also saw a thick blanket of fog, reducing visibility and causing inconvenience to commuters during morning.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 1.0°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night, MeT official said. The minimum temperature was minus 1.1°C below normal for the gateway town, the official said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in South Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.3°C against 2.9°C on the previous night and it was 1°C below normal for the place.
Kokernag, also in South Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 0.3°C which was below normal for the place by around minus 0.3°C, the official said.
Kupwara town in North Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.4°C which was 0.9°C below normal, the official said.
Gulmarg recorded a minimum of 0.6°C and it was above 2.7°C normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir, the official said.
Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, recorded a minimum of 10.6°C which was below normal by minus 0.9°C for the place, he said.
Regarding the forecast, MeT official said, the weather is expected to be generally dry in the next 24 hours. He said generally cloudy weather is expected with light rain/snow at isolated places in the higher reaches on November 23. From 24th-26th November, he said, generally dry weather is expected. From 27th-30th November, he said, generally cloudy weather with light rain/Snow at isolated higher reaches is expected.
The MeT office said that overall no significant weather activity is expected till end of November.
It said that shallow to moderate fog is likely to continue till November 27 over many places of Kashmir division.
Fog Delays Morning Flights to Srinagar
In Srinagar, dry conditions and a cloudy sky contribute to atmospheric haze, leading to reduced visibility. Dense fog continues to pose challenges for vehicles during the early morning and evening hours.
“Morning flight at Srinagar Airport was delayed due to foggy conditions. Flights scheduled in the morning will take off once the fog lifts,” an official informed the Kashmir News Service (KNS).
Kashmir weather, the independent weather forecaster, suggests that the current foggy conditions are expected to diminish in the coming days as a fresh weak Western Disturbance is anticipated to affect Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
Apni Party chief assails Power Shortage
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Tuesday accused incumbent administration of depriving people from adequate electricity. He said it is illegitimate to give collective punishment to people in present harsh weather conditions.
According to Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent Bukhari while speaking to reporters accused J&K administration of depriving people from adequate electricity supply in the ongoing winters.
“Administration is punishing people by not purchasing deficit electricity from outside. As we know meters are installed and consumers are paying electricity dues regularly, so I feel it is injustice with people if they are not being provided adequate electricity supply in the ongoing winter,” Bukhari said.
“It is illegitimate to give collective punishment to people in winters,” Bukhari said and added, “The J&K administration should seek more funds from Centre for making electricity available to the people of J&K”.
It is pertinent to mention that Kashmir valley is currently gripped under severe cold with poor power supply across the length and breadth of J&K.
Div Com Assures Improved Power supply Next Week
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir V K Bidhuri Wednesday said that power supply in the region will be improved within a week.
Bidhuri as per local news gathering agency KNS said that it is undeniable that power supply in valley has seen a huge decline this year but it will be improved within a week. “This year we encountered with two issues which include early onset of severe winter season and less rainfall in the current year besides an issue with power capacity generation at local level. But the Lieutenant Governor has taken up the issue and hopefully the supply will be improved within a week,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir V K Bidhuri said.
He said it is a reality that the power curtailment schedule fixed for metered and non-metered areas are not being followed strictly because the demand from flat-rate pockets has been increased. He said the Lieutenant Governor J&K has set a committee in this regard to take a call on further power purchase from outside. “There will be a positive improvement in power supply when I will talk to media next week,” he said.
Have you liked the news article?