Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had to opt for a road trip from Srinagar to Jammu after his flight was cancelled on Sunday due to poor visibility at the Jammu airport. The cancellation was part of a larger disruption in air traffic, as airport officials reported that eleven flights were cancelled on Sunday because of low visibility, and one more was grounded due to technical reasons.
Abdullah shared the experience with the public on X (formerly Twitter), providing updates on his road trip. “Poor visibility in Jammu meant a sudden, last-minute road trip. Nothing flew in or out from Jammu yesterday (Sunday), so I had to saddle up and take the road to the winter capital,” he wrote. He also posted three videos showing his cavalcade moving from the summer capital Srinagar to the civil secretariat in Jammu.
Despite the disruption, airport officials confirmed that flight operations resumed on Monday morning as usual. However, Abdullah noted in another tweet that the weather conditions still appeared unfavorable for flights on Monday, with visibility being so low that the sun was barely visible from his official residence.
This marked Abdullah’s first visit to the civil secretariat in Jammu since taking office as Chief Minister on October 16. Upon his arrival, he was warmly received by employees at the government complex. The visit was significant, as it coincided with the government’s shift of administrative operations to Jammu for the winter season.
The relocation of administrative secretaries and department heads to Jammu was scheduled to begin on November 11, with officials expected to carry out their duties from there. This move is part of the regular seasonal shift, although it does not follow the traditional ‘Darbar Move’ that Jammu and Kashmir had observed for over a century. The ‘Darbar Move,’ which saw the government alternate between Jammu and Srinagar, was officially ended in June 2024, as part of a new policy introduced by the administration.
Sources By Agencies