| Kashmir, Leh reels under severe cold freezes water bodies, chill to intensify | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 20: Kashmir valley and Leh continued to reel under severe cold resulting in freezing of water bodies while chill will further intensify in the region, where 40-day-long Chilai-Kalan, the most coldest period of the winter, will start from mid-night.
It is said that during the Chilai-Kalan earth goes dead and water become more cold with the result the farmers cannot sow crop or plant any tree during this period of the winter which will be followed by 20-day-long Chilai Khurd and 10-day-long Chilai Bacha.
Interestingly the day presents a look of summer with sun out though icy cold winds also continued in the Kashmir valley, where most areas, including summer capital, Srinagar, recorded coldest night of the winter so far. There is also no possibility of any immediate relief from the chill as weather will remain dry and cold during the next 72 hours when minimum temperature could drop further. However, the day temperature could remain near or above normal. A Met department spokesman said here this afternoon that the weather will remain generally dry in the Jammu and Kashmir during the next 72 hours.
A weather office spokesman told that the night temperature could drop further in the days to come in the absence of any Western Disturbances (WD), which are responsible for snowfall and rains in the region.
After recording coldest night of the season after the minimum temperature recorded further drop and settled at minus 5.5 degree, 4.5 notches below normal, sun was out today though the intensity of the heat was very low due to icy cold winds. The earlier coldest was minus 4.9 degree, recorded on December 17.
Water bodies, including famed Dal Lake, were again frozen this morning. However, the frozen parts started melting as the day progress. But interior areas of the water body remained frozen. Water supply was also affected in many areas after taps were frozen in the city, particularly in the outskirts.
He said the sky would be mainly clear and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 10 degree and minus 5 degree respectively in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.
Interestingly world famous ski resort of Gulmarg remained warmer than Srinagar after the mercury recorded further improvement. Against yesterdays minus 3.5 degree, the minimum temperature there was minus 3 degree, a notch above normal. The world class ski slopes still awaits first heavy snowfall.
Famed health resort of Pahalgam remaind coldest place in the valley after recording further drop in the mercury. Against yesterdays minus 5.3 degree minimum temperature it was minus 6.2 degree, more than three notches below normal. However, coldest so far there was recorded on December 17 when it was minus 7.3 degree.
Truckers were struggling to start their vehicles at Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway after the minimum temperature witnessed further drop and settled at minus 4.4 degree, coldest of the winter so far.
Tourist resort of Kokernag recorded minus 3.4 degree, 2.4 notches below normal while Kupwara recorded minus 4.8 degree, about three notches below normal also coldest of the season so far.
There was no respite as severe chill continued in Leh in Ladakh region where mercury recorded further drop. Against yesterdays minus 13.8 degree, the minimum temperature there was minus 14 degree, coldest of the winter. The water bodies remained frozen there.
The sky would be mainly clear and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 11 degree and minus 14 degree respectively during the next 24 hours in Leh. |
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