Cold wave tightens grip over winter capital

Temperature dips below normal, rail traffic hit

Cold wave tightened its grip over the winter capital with the maximum and minimum temperatures dipping several notches below the normal, forcing the people to remain indoors.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Jammu registered a maximum of 17.9 degree Celsius, nearly two notches below the normal. The minimum temperature plummeted to 3.4 degree Celsius, five degrees below the normal.
“People in Jammu have been battling shivering cold wave as the day and night temperature remained below normal. There seems to be no immediate relief to the people from the intense cold conditions,” said an IMD official.
The official said there was a possibility of light rain and snowfall at isolated places across the state during the next 24 hours.
The School Education Department has ordered all government and private schools in Jammu to remain close for winter vacation from January 2 to January 13.
Meanwhile, poor visibility and fog affected the rail traffic, with all important trains running several hours behind the schedule.
“The dense fog and poor visibility in the northern region has affected train services at the Jammu railway station. All important trains were running six to eight hours behind the schedule. The Himgiri Express, which was scheduled to reach Jammu at 12.30 pm yesterday, reached the city about 20 hours behind the schedule, subjecting passengers to great inconvenience,” said a senior railway official.
The fog, however, had no impact on the air traffic as all incoming and outgoing flights moved as per the schedule.