Strong winds wreaked havoc at Srinagar International Airport on Friday, leading to the cancellation of 22 flights and widespread delays throughout the day. The inclement weather also caused significant damage in the city, with several trees uprooted, damaging vehicles and property.
According to an airport official, wind speeds reached 17 knots, with gusts up to 27 knots, severely affecting flight operations.
“Due to the adverse weather conditions, the airport could only accommodate 11 arrivals and 11 departures from 6:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.,” the official said.
Passengers faced considerable inconvenience as most remaining flights were delayed due to turbulent weather conditions. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and further updates on flight schedules are expected by 6:30 p.m. Travellers have been advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for real-time updates on departures and arrivals.
Strong Winds Uproot Trees Across Srinagar City
Meanwhile, strong winds uprooted several trees across Srinagar city overnight, damaging properties and vehicles in various areas. A visual showed a car crushed under a fallen tree, suffering severe damage. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) swiftly launched cleanup operations to remove fallen trees and debris, ensuring public safety and restoring traffic flow.
#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K | Several trees were uprooted in the city due to strong winds last night
Cleanup operations underway by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) team https://t.co/eNUUnGwp6N pic.twitter.com/JDwa7co5no
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2025
Speaking to news agency ANI, Srinagar Municipal Corporation official Mehraj Din Buza said, “There has been damage at many places due to strong winds last night. Our team has been engaged in restoration work since morning. We request people not to park their vehicles on the road or at places where there is a risk of trees falling. We are getting reports of damage at many places.”
The SMC team is working tirelessly to address the damage caused by the storm and prevent further hazards. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious and report any other tree-related risks to the municipal corporation.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significant temperature fluctuations across Jammu and Kashmir over the past 24 hours. In the Jammu Division, day temperatures have risen by 0°C to 5°C, with Jammu recording 34.0°C and Kathua 33.8°C on Thursday. However, temperatures in the Kashmir Division have dropped by 2°C to 8°C, with Qazigund and Kukernag registering 20.4°C and 20.6°C, respectively.
Night temperatures also showed slight variations, with Bhaderwah (9.1°C) and Banihal (10.4°C) recording the lowest minimum temperatures in the Jammu Division, while Gulmarg (0.6°C) and Kupwara (5.7°C) saw the lowest in the Kashmir Division.
The IMD has also predicted an increase in heatwave days across Northwest India this year. Typically, the region experiences five to six heatwave days in a season, but this year, it is expected to witness 10 to 12 such days.
“We are expecting slightly above normal heatwave conditions, especially over West and Central India. Generally, Northwest India sees around five to six heatwave days. This year, we expect 10 to 12 days, which is double the normal,” IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy told ANI.
She clarified that this was a seasonal prediction and did not imply that all days of the season would be above normal. The IMD will continue updating forecasts with extended-range and daily predictions for more accurate local variations.
However, the official did not comment on whether 2025 would be warmer than 2024, which was India’s hottest year on record with 554 heatwave days.
(With inputs from ANI)
