3 flights cancelled, train traffic disrupted JAMMU/srinagar: While the day temperature in Jammu has broken about 30 years old record by remaining nearly 11 degree Celsius below normal today, the night temperature in the winter capital has further depleted to 4.3 degree Celsius from 6 degree Celsius, just in past 24 hours whereas, the cold wave conditions and fog continued to play havoc with the people in the State and other parts of northern region for the last about one week. The day temperature in Jammu on January 5 was recorded by the SKUAST’s observatory as 8.4 degree Celsius while today it recorded the lowest day temperature of 6.5 degree Celsius after January 1982. The night temperature in the winter capital has also shown a sharp decline as it remained 4.3 degree Celsius. Chief Scientist Agrometeorology, SKUAST-Jammu, Dr M K Khushu told the Excelsior that after January, 1982 till today, Jammu’s temperature has never gone below the temperature as recorded today. He said the team went through the entire data available with the department today and it was found that after more than three decades such lowest temperature was recorded during the day today. Dr Khushu said during January 2003 also similar conditions remained for 14 days and the temperature remained about 6 to 8 degree Celsius below normal but it did not go between 10 to 11 degrees below normal. Western disturbances are also causing impact on this part of the country while continued fog and mist, besides further depletion in Solar radiation in the region is yet another cause of severe cold conditions. Moreover, night temperature is also falling rapidly as the earth is unable to absorb heat due to foggy weather and release it to maintain temperature. Dr Khushu disclosed that people in general and farmers in particular are needed to remain extra cautious under such conditions. A spokesman from MET office said that minimum temperature in Srinagar today was -4.9 degree Celsius and maximum 9.3 degree. In Leh, minimum and maximum temperatures were -14.2 and –1.0 degree Celsius, respectively while in Kargil night temperature was recorded as –16.4 degree and day temperature –1.0 degree Celsius. He said similar conditions will continue for next couple of days and weather will mainly remain dry and cold over the State. Foggy conditions will also be witnessed in plain areas of Jammu region. In Bhaderwah the night temperature was –3.2 degree and day temperature 9.4 degree, in Batote the day temperature was 11.0 degree and night temperature 0.0 degree Celsius, in Katra Vaishnodevi minimum temp 1.7 degree C and maximum 11.5 degree C, in Kupwara (North Kashmir) the night temperature was –5.4 degree C and day temperature 10.4 degree Celsius, in tourist resort of Pahalgam in Kashmir the night temperature today was –8.2, in Gulmarg it was –9.8 degree, in Qazigund it was –5.8 degree C while in Banihal the minimum temperature was -3.4 degree C. In Kookernag the night temperature was recorded as -4.1 degree Celsius. In Udhampur, the night temperature was 0.9 degree Celsius while day temperature 14.6 degree C. In Kathua, the maximum temperature recorded was 8.2 degree Celsius and minimum 4.2 degree C while in Samba, the night temperature was as low as 3.1 degree Celsius while day temperature as 8.1 degree Celsius. In Ramban the maximum temperature today was 13.5 degree Celsius whereas, minimum 0.8 degree Celsius. The continuous sub zero temperature has led to the freezing of the water pipes in Kashmir and parts of Jammu region thus adding miseries to the people. Dal lake remained frozen forcing the boatmen to break the ice slabs with oars for making passage. SP Airport Jammu Ashok Sharma said that two Air Mantra flights could not be operated from Jammu air port while a Spicejet flight was also cancelled. He said all other flights operated from this airport today while a few morning flights were a little late but almost in time. He said Spice Jet flights between Jammu-Delhi and Jaipur will remain suspended up to January 15. A new Air Mantra flight between Jammu-Kargil also started its operation today and left for Kargil at 9.15 am after it was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PCC president, Saif-ud-Din Soz. A Northern Railways spokesman said that most of the trains arrived late at Jammu station by two to six hours today as fog and mist continued to disrupt movement of train traffic in region. He said Ahmedabad-Jammu-Udhampur Janambhoomi Exp train was late by four and half hours, Pooja Express was cancelled from Jaipur station for Jammu, Shalimar Express was four hours late, Kolkata Chitpur Jammu by three and half hours, Jammu Mail was also late by three and half hours, Maurya Dhwaj-Jammu by three and half hours, Himgiri by five hours, Tata Moori by four hours and so on. DIG Traffic Shakeel Beig said that today was up convoy to Srinagar and the highway was through. Tomorrow, there will be down convoy from Srinagar to Jammu and no opposite traffic will be allowed. Some relaxation will be for the vehicles carrying LPG/ fuel etc.