Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Flight operations at Srinagar were temporarily suspended on Thursday due to snowfall, with both arrivals and departures put on hold, airlines said.In an advisory to passengers, the airline said the suspension could lead to extended wait times, both onboard aircraft and at the airport, as weather conditions continued to affect operations. It added that boarding formalities may be completed in advance so that flights can depart immediately once clearance is granted.The airline said it was closely monitoring the situation and assured passengers that efforts were being made to minimise inconvenience. Travellers have been advised to check the latest status of their flights before heading to the airport, as operations will resume only after weather conditions improve.Cold conditions tightened their grip across Kashmir on Thursday as minimum temperatures dipped further at most locations, with officials warning that an approaching western disturbance could bring fresh snowfall later in the day.Night temperatures fell below the freezing point across the valley. In Srinagar, the minimum temperature dropped by one degree from the previous night to settle at minus 3.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night.The coldest spot in the valley was Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, where the mercury plunged to minus 6.1 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 5.5 degrees Celsius a night earlier. North Kashmir’s ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a minimum of minus 4 degrees Celsius.In south Kashmir, Pahalgam, which also serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, registered a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, down from minus 3.8 degrees Celsius the previous night.Officials said Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag settled at minus 2.6 degrees Celsius and Kupwara at minus 3.7 degrees Celsius.According to the meteorological department, two strong western disturbances are expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir this week. The first system is likely to impact the region on Thursday, followed by another on January 26. Under their influence, widespread light to moderate rainfall and snowfall, including in the plains of the Kashmir Valley, is forecast, with peak activity expected on January 23 and January 27.
