Cold wave sweeps Kashmir; several places record sub-zero temperatures
(Sourced from PTI)
Minimum temperatures across Kashmir stayed several degrees below the freezing point as an intense cold wave swept the region, a meteorological department official said on Tuesday. Several water bodies, including the surface of the famous Dal Lake in Kashmir, have frozen, while a thick layer of ice has formed on several roads in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley, affecting vehicular movement.
Srinagar city recorded a low of minus seven degree Celsius, down from minus 6.4 degree Celsius the previous night. The minimum temperature in the city last night was nearly five degrees below normal for this time of the year. Qazigund, Kashmir Valley's gateway town, recorded a minimum temperature of 8.6 degree Celsius.
The minimum temperature in north Kashmir's Baramulla settled at minus 6.2 degree Celsius last night, down from minus six degree Celsius the night earlier, he said. Pahalgam, a tourist resort in south Kashmir that also serves as a base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night's minus 6.8 degree Celsius, the official said.
Kupwara recorded a low of minus 5.7 degree Celsius, while Kokernag recorded minus 7.4 degree Celsius. Kashmir is currently under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, a 40-day harsh winter period when cold wave sweeps the region and temperatures drop considerably, leading to freezing of water bodies and water in pipelines. The chances of snowfall are highest during this period, especially in higher areas.
While Chillai-Kalan, which began on December 21, will end on January 31, cold waves will continue in the Valley with a 20-day-long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) and 10-day-long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold).
