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Delhi gets respite from cold spell

As the mist lifts from over India Gate ...

    New Delhi:    Finally, Delhiites got respite from icy winds and freezing cold as the night temperature was recorded at 8 degree Celsius, one degree above normal. According to official sources, this was the first time in this winter season that the emperature was recorded one degree above normal. The sun shone brightly as the temperature was recorded above normal range. Visibility in the Capital was normal with no fog cover which enabled the smooth movement of domestic and international flights to and from Delhi. The clear weather conditions were also reported to be good for the arrival and departure of the trains as trains were running on time.

    It is predicted that while the night temperature could rise to as high as 10 degrees Celsius by January 17, the day temperature was likely to touch a high of 28 degrees Celsius on January 17. The warmth in the air could be attributed to the decrease in the influence of the north-western winds which had contributed to the chill in the air during the past week, with the mercury touching a 70-year low of 0.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

    Last week, there seemed no let-up in the severe cold wave sweeping northern India. Mercury plummeted. In Delhi the minimum temperature was recorded at 0.2 degree Celsius, breaking a 70-year-old record. B Lal, Director General Meteorology, said the weather conditions would change soon. The days will become warmer. He said it was the northwesterly disturbance that had caused the fall in temperature. Meteorological Department officials said visibility was recorded at 800 meters. Thick fog in the plains disrupted the rail and air services which have become normal now. Last week the Delhi Government had to close the schools as cold wave intensified. The cold killed more than 100 people in the region in nearly two months. There was heavy snow in Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. In Agra, the temperature fell below freezing point. Bonfires were a common sight.

Tourists throng Gulmarg; Dal lake feeezes

    Srinagar: The Jammu-Srinagar Highway continued to remain closed to traffic for the third consecutive day following heavy snowfall. Vehicles, especially trucks, were stranded on the route. In Himachal Pradesh too, the snow blocked the roads. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded at the tourist of Manali. With the winters reluctant to leave Gulmarg, a large number of tourists are thronging the scenic resort here in Kashmir to enjoy the snow-blanketed slopes. Gulmarg is located at an altitude of 8,500 feet in the Pir Panjal ranges of Kashmir. Bowl-shaped, it is 35 km from Srinagar. To the many tourists, who are arriving here from the plains of India, it is like a never-before experience. Gulmarg is also ideally suited as a premier ski resort. The year 2006 has raised new hopes of revival of the economy in Kashmir valley. Tourism has been the mainstay of the economy of the State for decades.

   The famous Dal lake in Srinagar froze last week as the temperature dipped below zero degree Celsius. It has happened after 12 years. Dal Lake is a major tourist attraction but is shrinking to half over the decades because of silt and weeds. Many areas on the periphery have been reclaimed and converted into floating gardens. The lake is in the heart of the capital and has more 1,500 houseboats. In Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the freezing temperatures paralysed life. Vehicular traffic was severely affected. Visibility was reduced to barely a few meters due to thick fog. Thousands of vehicles have been stranded on the highway.

   In Himachal, the tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti were cut off from the rest of the region as the Rohtang Pass was closed. Although, in Kufri, tourists enjoyed the snow. Down in the plains, heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has had a chilling impact. Temperature fell in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Delhi. Earlier, fearly 20 flights were delayed or cancelled after the visibility on the runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi was reduced to 225 metres at 8.30 am (IST) last week. Many long distance trains entering north India were also reported to be running late by one to seven hours. Traffic movement on roads too was badly affected due to fog.
Jan 16, 2006             

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