Intense cold show no signs of let up in Kashmir

Srinagar records low of -4.3°C, Pahalgam coldest in Valley at -5.9 °C

Srinagar, Dec 25 (GNS): The intense cold condition gripping Kashmir shows no sign of letting up as the Valley braces itself up for “isolated to scattered light rain and snow” in next couple of days.

A MeT official told GNS on Friday that mercury settled in Srinagar at minus 4.3°C against minus 3.8 °C on the previous night. The temperature is almost three degrees Celsius below the normal for this time of the year in Srinagar where people endured second coldest night at minus 6.6 °C in a decade on Saturday last.

The temperature also remained below or equal to normal overnight in other parts of the Valley with Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort recording a low of minus 5.6 °C, same as on the precious night. Pahalgam, the famous tourist destination in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 5.9 °C against 5.2°C on the previous night and was the coldest place in the entire Valley. Qazigund recorded minus 3.8 °C (a degree below the normal), Kupwara minus 4.0°C (one degree below normal) and Kokernag minus 3.3 °C (one degree below normal).

Kashmir is in the middle Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day winter period which commenced on December 21 and ends on January 31. The period is considered the harshest of the winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum.

The cold wave, however, continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold). The weatherman has forecast mainly dry weather over Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in next 24 hours.
For subsequent two days, “isolated to scattered light rain and snow” has been predicted in the Valley by the weatherman.

Due to harsh weather conditions, people are facing a lot of problems. The water supply has been disrupted with frozen taps becoming a common sight now. The frequent power cuts, scheduled or unscheduled, only amplify the cold and add to the discomfort of the people. Some portions of the Dal Lake were also frozen due to the cold wave. (GNS)