Freezing Cold Unabated In Kashmir Valley, Ladakh

Srinagar: Freezing cold conditions continued in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh with Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recording a low of minus 3.4°C.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that the minimum temperature in Srinagar was down by 9 notches than previous night’s minus 2.7°C. It was minus 1.3°C below normal for this time of the year.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 10.5°C against minus 11.0°C on the previous night, he said. The temperature was minus 2.6°C below normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 10.3°C against minus 9.4°C last night, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7.8°C against minus 5.8°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7.5°C against minus 6.1°C on the previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 1.3°C against minus 2.5°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu recorded a low of 5.7°C against previous night’s 5.5°C which is minus 1.3°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of minus 2.4°C, Katra 0.6 °C and Bhaderwah saw a minimum of minus 2.4°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 13.9°C against last night’s minus 15.5°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 19.9°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 23.8°C against last night’s minus 21.9°C, official said.

The weatherman has forecast dry weather at most places in Jammu and Kashmir till January 16.  (GNS)