: Normal life in Jammu was disrupted on Wednesday as a dense blanket of fog affected air and rail operations, while chilling weather conditions continued across the region.
“Due to dense fog and poor visibility, flight operations at Jammu airport remained affected since morning,” an official said.
Rail services were also badly hit. A senior railway official said several trains were running three to four hours behind schedule, as dense fog across northern parts of the country disrupted rail movement.
The Meteorological Department (MeT) said foggy conditions are likely to persist for a few more days, even as cold weather continues to grip the region.
According to the MeT Department, minimum temperatures recorded during the intervening night of January 13–14 were: Jammu 4.0°C, Banihal 5.3°C, Batote 4.5°C, Katra 5.5°C, Bhaderwah 0.5°C, Kathua 4.2°C, Jammu Airport 4.8°C, Udhampur 1.0°C, Ramban 2.8°C, Samba 1.5°C, Rajouri 0.6°C, Kishtwar 4.3°C, Reasi 2.6°C and Doda 4.3°C.
In view of the harsh cold conditions, the administration has extended winter vacations in schools till January 14, while several institutions are conducting online classes for primary sections.
People in the plains of Jammu, especially roadside vendors, were seen burning firewood to protect themselves from the biting cold. Many business establishments have installed warmers and electric heaters to provide relief to customers.
Vehicular movement remained slow, with drivers using headlights even during daytime to avoid accidents amid poor visibility caused by thick fog.
