 Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 25: The world famous Dal Lake in the heart of the summer capital, Srinagar and other water bodies froze after the mercury dropped again and settled at below minus five degree Celsius, resulting in chilly conditions.
Icy-cold winds coupled with frequent and unscheduled power cuts has affected normal life in the Kashmir valley, where the maximum temperature yesterday was one to nine degree below normal.
It was yet another bone chilling night in Srinagar, where the maximum temperature yesterday was 7 degree, about two degree below normal. However, the minimum temperature in the city also witnessed further drop and settled at minus 5.2 degree, second coldest of the season so far after minus 5.6 degree recorded early this week.
As people woke up this morning after chilly night, taps, water bodies, khuls and drains were frozen, particularly in the areas where there is less population, including outskirts.
The world famous Dal Lake, major tourist attraction in the city, was also frozen this morning as the temperature could have been below minus 6 to 7 degree because of icy cold winds coming from nearby mountains.
The frozen surface near the bank was light compared to interior parts of the lake.
In 1965, the water body was totally frozen and a jeep crossed the Lake from one end to another.
The water in the Lake was again frozen and youths could be seen playing cricket and ice hockey on the frozen surface in 1986. Tourists from different parts of the country besides locals were visiting the Lake and taking photographs on frozen surface. In 90s and 20s the Lake was also frozen, attracting locals and tourists.Water in other water bodies, drains and Khuls had also frozen this morning. However, the frozen water melts as the day progressed. |
