SRINAGAR: Air traffic to and fro the Srinagar International Airport was restored on Sunday, a day after heavy snowfall forced cancellation of all flights to the Kashmir valley.
“The flights to Srinagar have resumed and we expect normal operations,” an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) told PTI.
He said the flight operations had to be suspended on Saturday following heavy snowfall since Friday evening.
“The runways were cleared and all safety checks done before the flight operations were resumed,” the official added.
Kashmir witnessed the first major snowfall of the season on Friday evening and it continued till Saturday.
Besides affecting the flight operations, the snowfall also forced a closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, while train services were also suspended.
However, the highway has been cleared now and passenger vehicles are being allowed to ply but motorists have been advised to follow lane discipline.
KLNN adds:
Airport Director Javed Anjum confirmed that 23 scheduled flights were operating normally despite the challenging start. “Four flights were initially diverted, with two subsequently cancelled for operational reasons, while the other two returned to their points of origin,” he said, adding that an additional flight by Air India Express was also scheduled for the day.
The disruptions follow significant weather-related challenges earlier in the week, including the cancellation of approximately 37 flights on December 28 and seven more the previous day due to snowfall. However, with conditions stabilising, operations are back on track.
To manage the surge in passenger traffic, the Air Force has extended operating hours until 7 PM. “This will help accommodate the peak rush and ensure smoother travel,” Javed noted.
