Srinagar-Jammu NH reopens partially; fog hits trains in north

After remaining cut off for two consecutive days due to heavy snowfall, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway reopened partially for traffic today, even as dense fog led to delay of nearly 50 north-bound trains.

A day after the national capital received its first spell of winter rains, there was a slight chill in the air today though the temperatures settled above normal for this time of the season.

The minimum temperature was 11.6 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal. The maximum temperature was  20.2 degrees Celsius, a degree above normal, according to the weather department.

However, poor visibility led to delay of 48 Delhi-bound trains, rescheduling of 32 and cancellation of six others.

The Srinagar-Jammu Highway partially reopened for traffic after remaining blocked for two days due to heavy snowfall. The Kashmir Valley connected with the rest of the country as air traffic also resumed.

Air traffic at Srinagar Airport resumed today as flights were able to land and take-off following improvement in the weather.

The nearly 300-km arterial highway was cleared off the snow and the debris left behind by landslides at few places and stranded vehicles were allowed to proceed towards Srinagar. Officials said the traffic would be allowed tomorrow if weather permits.

During the last 24 hours, Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded 10 cm of snow. Other places which received snowfall during the last 24 hours were Gulmarg and Kokernag. Some other places received rains.

Meanwhile, a medium danger avalanche warning was issued today for some avalanche-prone districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and people have been advised not to venture into such areas.

Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) issued the warning that would be valid for the 24 hours starting at 5 pm today.

A SASE advisory said the warning is for avalanche-prone areas in Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Doda, Poonch and Riyasi of Jammu and Kashmir.

Medium-danger avalanche warning for the same period has also been issued for areas in Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Parts of Rajasthan witnessed dense fog which reduced visibility to 50 metres affecting rail traffic.

Mount Abu was the coldest place in the state at of 1.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Sriganganagar (6.5 degrees Celsius).

Eleven trains are running late. Bikaner-Chennai train is delayed by 29 hours, Howrah-Sriganganagar by over 17 hours, Howrah-Jodhpur-Bikaner by over 11 hours, Gorakhpur-Hisar by six hours, Varanasi-Jodhpur and Allahabad-Jaipur by six hours, a North Western Railway spokesperson said.

In most parts of Punjab and Haryana, minimum temperatures hovered above normal. Common capital Chandigarh recorded its minimum at 8 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal.

The maximum temperatures, however, dropped several notches below normal and ranged between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius in most parts of Punjab and Haryana.

In Bihar, where Supaul was the coldest at 7 degrees Celsius, Patna witnessed a sunny day with maximum and minimum temperatures increasing by a few notches.

As per a MeT bulletin, the state capital witnessed a minimum temperature of 13.3 degrees Celsius against yesterday's 10.5. The city's maximum was recorded at 24.6 degrees Celsius compared to yesterday's 21.