| Srinagar, Leh freeze at minus 6.5 degree, minus 14.9 degree | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 21 Cold wave further intensified on the first day of 40-day-long Chilla-i-Kalan with the mercury dipping, recording the coldest night at various places in Kashmir valley and Ladakh region, including Srinagar, which froze at minus 6.5 degree.
Border town of Kargil and Leh in Ladakh region also recorded the coldest nights of the season so far after the mercury witnessed a considerable dip. Against minus 14 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature was 14.9 degree in Leh. Meanwhile, the mercury dipped and settled at minus 11.4 degree in Kargil, against minus 9.4 degree recorded yesterday.
A weather office spokesman told that the temperature will drop further in the days to come as skies will be dry during the next three days.
He said the minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at minus 6.5 degrees, the coldest night of the winter so far. The lowest so far was minus 5.5 degree recorded yesterday.
Though the dry spell was a cause of concern for everyone it is not abnormal during this period of the winter, he said, adding that the region has been witnessing dry and coldest nights in the past also.
The farmers said they 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.
The weather spokesman said the lowest minimum temperature recorded was on December 31, 2007, when it went down to minus 7.2 degree. There was also no snowfall or rains then.
On December 15, 2005, it dipped to minus 6.3 degree Celsius, he said, adding that this year too, cold conditions will further intensify because of no Western Disturbance (WD).
He said the entire Afghanistan and Pakistan are facing dry weather conditions, which are responsible for drop in the minimum temperature because of clear sky during the night.
''We were getting WD from Afghanistan and Pakistan, originating in Arabian sea,'' he said, adding that there was no immediate chance of getting the WD in the region. |
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