Authorities say ‘safety comes first’
Srinagar, Jan 27: Heavy snowfall and poor visibility on Tuesday forced the complete suspension of flight operations at Srinagar International Airport, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and marking a weather disruption, officials said here.
They said a total of 58 flights were cancelled today, including 29 incoming and 29 outgoing flights, while the status of tomorrow’s operations will be known in the morning after assessing the situation on the ground.
A senior official at the airport told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that all scheduled flights for the day were cancelled due to continuous snowfall and unsafe visibility levels.
“Safety always comes first. Flight operations were called off to ensure passenger safety,” the official said.
He said all incoming and outgoing flights, including those of IndiGo, Air India, Alliance Air, Air India Express and SpiceJet, among others, were grounded as runway clearance and visibility remained below operational minimums.
“Due to adverse weather conditions and continuous snowfall in Srinagar, the runway is currently not available for safe aircraft operations. In the interest of passenger safety, all flight operations to and from Srinagar have been cancelled for the day,” the official added.
He said the airport and airline teams are “closely monitoring the weather” and will resume services once the runway is declared operational.
Passengers have also been advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for updates and rescheduling. “We regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate the understanding and cooperation of passengers,” the official said.
According to the official, a total of 58 flights were cancelled for today, including 29 arrivals and 29 departures, amid relentless snowfall that blanketed the runway and nearby areas.
Similarly, at the terminal, scenes of disappointment and anger were visible as travellers waited for updates. “We had been waiting since morning, hoping the flight would take off,” said a passenger waiting for travel towards Delhi.
“But once the snowfall intensified, we knew it was not happening today. It is frustrating, but safety matters.”
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has also forecast continued widespread light to moderate rain and snowfall across Jammu & Kashmir in the next 24 hours, raising concerns about further disruptions to air and surface traffic.
Airport officials appealed for patience and caution, urging passengers not to rely on social media rumours but to follow official advisories for real-time updates.
“We are working round-the-clock with all stakeholders to ensure that as soon as the weather improves and visibility allows, normal flight operations will resume,” the official said, adding the flight schedule for tomorrow will be known in the morning after reviewing the situation. (KNO)
