Foggy weather affects flight movement at Srinagar airport

Srinagar, Nov 25: Air traffic to and fro Srinagar international airport was hit for the third day running today due to foggy weather, stranding hundreds of passengers including tourists. Flight operation at the airport is suspended for the last two days due to the fog.

"Air traffic remains affected for the third day today as no flight has either landed or taken off from the airport here this morning," Director, Airport Authority of India here, R K Shinde told PTI.

He said bad weather was hampering the air traffic and no clearance has been given yet by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) centre. "The ATC, manned by Air Force, has not given the clearance yet because of poor visibility due to fog," Shinde said.

The director said the air traffic would resume once the conditions improve and the ATC gives clearance. Many passengers, including tourists, have been left stranded due to the disruption in the air traffic.

All flights to and fro the airport had to be cancelled on Monday due to poor visibility as a thick layer of fog engulfed the valley. The flights were cancelled yesterday as well.

The foggy conditions persisted for the third day today, though not as powerful as was witnessed Monday. The minimum temperature in the summer capital Srinagar stood at 4.1 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological Department said, adding it was three degrees more than yesterday.

Gulmarg ski-resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius – the only place in the Valley where mercury stayed below the freezing point. A Western Disturbance (WD) is expected to hit the region tomorrow and might help end the prevailing foggy conditions.

"There is possibility of rains in most areas of the Valley or snow in the higher reaches," the official said.

PTI