Kashmir continues to reel under cold wave conditions

Srinagar: There was a slight respite from the intense cold wave conditions in Kashmir on Monday but the minimum temperatures remained several degrees below the freezing point across the valley, owing to a clear sky, MeT officials said.

Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, up from minus 5.6 degrees Celsius noted the previous night, the officials said.

Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir noted a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, slightly down from the previous night, they said.

Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, up from the previous night's minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

The minimum temperature in Kokernag town settled at minus 2.1 degrees Celsius and in Kupwara at minus 5 degrees Celsius, they added.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of "Chilla-i-Kalan", a 40-day harsh winter period when a cold wave sweeps the region and temperatures drop considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies as well as water in pipes.

The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period and most areas, particularly the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall.

A thin layer of ice formed on the surface of the Dal Lake here on Monday and other water bodies in Kashmir due to the intense cold wave that is gripping the region, the officials said.

People who live in houseboats in Dal Lake have a tough time breaking the layer of ice over the water body to reach its banks. Water in pipes also froze in several parts of the Kashmir valley.

Kashmir has been going through a prolonged dry spell and a 79 per cent deficit in rainfall was recorded for December.

No snowfall was noted in most of the plain areas of Kashmir, while the upper reaches of the valley have received lesser than usual amount of snow. The meteorological department has forecast mainly dry weather till January 12.

'Chilla-i-Kalan' will end on January 31. However, the cold conditions will continue with a 20-day 'Chilla-i-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day 'Chilla-i-Bachha' (baby cold).