Low visibility forces CM Omar Abdullah to make first official visit to Jammu by road

Chief  Minister Omar Abdullah embarked on his first official visit to Jammu, since assuming office. The journey, however, took an unexpected turn as low visibility in Jammu resulted in the grounding of all flights, forcing Abdullah to travel by road.

“Poor visibility in Jammu meant a sudden, last-minute, road trip. Nothing flew in or out from Jammu yesterday, so I had to saddle up and take the road to the winter capital,” Abdullah posted on X. He said the hazy conditions didn’t seem to be improving. “Looking at the visibility from the balcony of the official residence, I don’t think flights will be operating any time soon today either.  You can barely see the sun in the haze,” he said.

Upon arrival at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, Abdullah received a warm welcome and a guard of honour, marking a significant moment in his tenure as he and his  cabinet. Abdullah and his cabinet will now be based in Jammu in winter but will travel to Kashmir when required. 

Before  the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, which removed Jammu and  Kashmir’s limited autonomy, the Civil Secretariat employees traditionally moved  to Jammu each winter as part of the "Darbar Move." 

The practice, a tradition, was halted by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration due to the substantial expenses involved. Abdullah and his five-member cabinet are now set to operate from Jammu for the winter months, with planned visits to  Kashmir as needed.

The foggy weather not only affected the Chief Minister’s plans but also disrupted air travel across the region. All evening flights to Jammu were canceled on  Sunday and Monday morning, with arrivals and departures facing delays due to continued poor visibility. Airlines such as SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Alliance Air were forced to cancel or reschedule flights, leaving passengers stranded at airports in Delhi, Srinagar, and Jammu.

Meteorologists suggest that the smoggy conditions are expected to linger until rainfall clears the air. Such smog is common in plains and border areas during this season,  primarily due to stubble and crop residue burning. However, a developing western disturbance might bring light rain and snowfall to parts of north Kashmir in the coming days, potentially improving air quality.