Srinagar- Air traffic at Srinagar International Airport was disrupted on Friday as dense fog and poor visibility led to the cancellation of seven scheduled flights, officials said.
The cancellations affected both full-service and low-cost carriers, leaving several passengers stranded at the airport. Authorities advised travellers to reconfirm flight schedules before heading to the airport as visibility remained below operational limits for much of the day.
Airport officials said multiple morning and afternoon flights could not operate due to persistent fog over the runway. Airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet cancelled their inbound and outbound services as visibility dropped sharply.
Among the affected flights were Air India’s services AI-3423 and AI-1799 to Delhi. IndiGo cancelled flights 6E-6164 on the Amritsar sector and 6E-2044 bound for Delhi. SpiceJet’s flights SG-661 and SG-180 to Delhi, along with IndiGo flight 6E-6961 to Kolkata, were also cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
Airport authorities said passenger safety remains the top priority and flight operations will resume once weather conditions improve.
Several passengers reported long queues at airline counters as they sought rebooking and clarification regarding their travel plans.
Officials have advised travellers to remain in contact with their respective airlines for updated information, warning that further delays or cancellations cannot be ruled out if fog persists through the evening.
3 Doppler Weather Radars Operational In J&K
The weather monitoring in Jammu and Kashmir has been equipped with advanced monitoring and forecasting systems, with three Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) currently operational across the Union Territory, the Government of India said on Friday.
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Doppler Weather Radars are functioning at Banihal Top, Jammu and Srinagar, which significantly amplify the real-time weather surveillance and early warning capabilities across Jammu as well as the Kashmir valley.
Under Mission Mausam, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is using next-generation forecasting models such as the Bharat Forecast System (BharatFS), which operates at a high spatial resolution of six kilometres and provides short to medium range rainfall forecasts up to ten days, informed the Ministry.
These forecasts are now generated at the panchayat and cluster-of-panchayat levels, proving beneficial to weather-sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir.
The government has also introduced a new system known as the Mithuna Forecast System– a new generation global coupled model integrating atmosphere, land, ocean and sea-ice components. This is being used to improve district-level forecasts for extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, snowfall, heatwaves and fog— a phenomenon frequently occurring in J&K.
The Ministry further stated that artificial intelligence and machine learning-based tools are now being integrated into the forecasting chain to enhance nowcasting and impact-based warnings. These systems help generate more reliable alerts for disasters such as flash floods, cloudbursts and avalanches, which are common in hilly and mountainous areas like Jammu and Kashmir.
To issue timely weather advisories, satellite-based monitoring, through INSAT platforms and real-time data from radar networks, is being used. These are then disseminated through IMD websites, mobile applications such as Meghdoot, Mausam and Damini, and other digital platforms.
The Government said that the expansion of weather forecasting infrastructure will continue to happen under Mission Mausam. It includes setting up additional radars to address the coverage gaps and further strengthen disaster preparedness and climate resilience in vulnerable regions, including Jammu and Kashmir.
