SRINAGAR, Nov 21 : The cold wave intensified in Kashmir as temperatures plummeted below freezing point, causing disruptions in flight operations at the Srinagar international airport due to dense fog. Shopian, located in south Kashmir, recorded the lowest temperature in the valley at minus 3.9 degrees Celsius. Srinagar city experienced a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius on Monday night, marking the coldest night in many areas, including Srinagar.
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, registered a low of minus 0.8 degrees Celsius, while the Gulmarg ski resort recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam, the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 2.9 degrees Celsius, and Pulwama recorded minus 2.7 degrees Celsius.
The significant drop in minimum temperatures has led to calls for the closure of schools up to primary classes. The Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir issued a statement on Monday urging the administration to announce winter vacations for lower classes.
Additionally, dense fog covered most parts of Kashmir, impacting traffic in the early hours. Morning flights on Monday and Tuesday were delayed due to poor visibility, according to an official from the Airport Authority of India.
