Dense fog disrupted normal life in Srinagar and elsewhere Sunday as cold wave intensified forcing majority of the people to stay indoors.
In Srinagar less number of vehicles were seen plying on roads, However, shops remained open for a while and the flea market remained abuzz yet again with people looking mainly for woolens.
The airport authorities had to cancel all flights including those scheduled for the security forces yet again. The flights had been cancelled Saturday as well.
An Airport Authority of India (AAI) official said 28 flights, including those for the armed forces, were scheduled at the airport for Sunday.
"The airlines took the decision to cancel all flights because of very poor visibility caused by heavy fog in the valley," the official said.
Flight operations have been severely affected at the airport for the past three days.
On Friday, several flights were cancelled, while no flight operations took place on Saturday.
A thick layer of fog engulfed most parts of the valley on Sunday affecting visibility and causing problems to people especially to motorists.
Meanwhile, Srinagar registered coldest night of the season at minus 4 degrees. In most areas, particularly in outskirts, taps, drains and water bodies near banks were frozen due to below freezing temperature coupled with icy cold winds.
People remained indoor due to severe cold and fog outside on Sunday. However, shops selling “ Haresa” (special winter dish made from meat) witness heavy rush this morning.
Though the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was through for traffic for only security force vehicles, reports received here said that vehicles with headlights on were moving in a very low speed due to dense fog.
Shops and business establishments, which were functioning since morning in Srinagar, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, opened only after 0930 hrs and 1000 hrs due to chilly weather conditions. Shopkeepers later closed their shops between 1300 hrs to 1400 hrs to protest against scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A, besides dividing the state into two Union Territories (UTs) on August 5.
In Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh continue to shiver due to below freezing temperature.
Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, in Ladakh was coldest in the region at minus 26 degree while it was minus 16 degree minimum temperature at Leh.
Majority of water bodies remained frozen and people were using spring water which remained warm in winter and cold in summer. Temperature at Kargil was not available,
Water in the Dal Lake and other water bodies near banks and taps and drains was frozen in most areas, particularly in the outskirts in Srinagar. However, frozen water defreeze as the day progress. However, in the interior Lake water remained frozen due to icy cold winds and fog.
The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and health resort of Pahalgam recorded minus 5.6 degree and 6.3 degree minimum temperature respectively. Kupwara, frontier district of in north Kashmir recorded minus 5.7 degree which was over 3.5 notches below normal.
In south Kashmir Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, recorded minus 3.5 degree, over 2.5 degree below normal while at tourist resort of Kokernag witnessed minus 4 degree, about three notches below normal.
The night temperature, however, is likely to improve in the coming days under the influence of Western Disturbance which is likely to hit the region on Wednesday, bringing another spell of snow and rains.