news details |
|
|
| Valley freezes as 'Chillai Kalan' tightens grip over Kashmir | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 26: The Kashmir Valley is witnessing intense cold with Chillai Kalan, the 40-day period of extreme cold, having commenced earlier this week.
Night temperatures remained several notches below the freezing point on Saturday, as extreme cold tightened its grip on the valley.
Nowhere in the valley and the cold desert Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir did the night temperature rise above the freezing point on Saturday, a meteorological department official told .
Residents felt the severity of the winter cold more early Saturday when they had to suddenly leave their homes in panic as a 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Kashmir at 12.44 a.m.
There was no respite from the chill as mercury remained below freezing point in the Kashmir valley, where scattered rain is predicted during the next 24 hours.
Leh in Ladakh remained coldest at minus 10.1 degree in the region though it has recorded 6 degree improvement during the past 24 hours while Gulmarg, a world famous ski resort was coldest in the valley.
Despite recording some improvement in the minimum temperature which was still below freezing point, people in the Kashmir valley woke up to cloudy weather this morning.
A Met department spokesman said that there could be scattered rain in the valley and in the Jammu region while weather will remain dry in the Ladakh region which could result in further drop in the minimum temperature there.
Interior parts of the world famous Dal Lake in the summer capital, Srinagar, remained frozen as the minimum temperature was still below normal.
Life in the city was badly affected due to the chilling weather coupled with frequent and unscheduled power cuts.
Due to cloudy weather, there was some improvement in the minimum temperature in the city which however, remained below normal. Against yesterdays minus 5.2 degree minimum temperature, it was minus 3.2 degree, still 1.2 notch below normal. However, majority people remained indoor due to general strike in the valley today. The maximum temperature in the city was 5.7 degree, more than 3 degree below normal.
At Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, drivers were seen heating the tanks of their vehicles to defreeze diesel to start journey for winter capital after the minimum temperature dropped further and settled at minus 4 degree, coldest of the season so far.
Gulmarg, a famed ski resort in north Kashmir, was coldest in the valley through there was more than five degree improvement. Against yesterdays minus 10.2 degree, it was minus 5.7 degree at the ski resort where so far coldest was minus 12.5 degree recorded on December 24.
At Pahalgam due to cloudy sky during the night, the minimum temperature witnessed increase and settled at minus 4.4 degree against yesterdays minus 8 degree.
The mercury remained below normal at Kokernag in south and Kupwara in north Kashmir.
There was also considerable improvement in the minimum temperature though it remained below freezing point. Against minus 16.2 degree, coldest of the season so far recorded yesterday, it was minus 10.1 degree at Leh while at Kargil it was 9 degree against yesterdays minus 15 degree minimum temperature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
