Kashmir: In the grip of cold wave

Kashmir: There was no respite from the intense dry and cold conditions in Kashmir on Wednesday as the minimum temperature remained several degrees below the freezing point, officials said. He said Anantnag city was the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night when the mercury dropped by more than seven degrees below the freezing point. A thin layer of ice has formed on the surface of the lake, officials said, while Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of -4.8 degrees Celsius for the second consecutive night. Lake residents, who lived in floating houses, had difficulty breaking through the ice layer while moving their boats toward the shore. Due to the extreme cold wave conditions, water supply pipes have frozen in many areas of Cachemira. Pahalgam in Anantnag district, south of Kachemira, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum temperature of -6.6 degrees Celsius, down from -6.2 degrees Celsius the previous night. , Said. The ski station of Gulmarg, north of Kachemira, recorded a minimum temperature of -3.8 degrees Celsius, Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of -4.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag town recorded a low of -3.2 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a minimum temperature of -3.2 degrees Celsius. He said that the minimum temperature was recorded at -5.3 degrees Celsius. Officials said Kashmir has been facing prolonged drought and there is no forecast of rain for the next six days, adding that the rain deficiency in December was 79 per cent. Most of the hilly areas of Cashmira have received no snowfall, while the upper reaches of the valley have also received less snowfall than normal in late December. Officials said the minimum temperature dropped further in most parts of Srinagar including Srinagar due to clear sky. Cashemira is currently found below the valleys of ‘Chilla-e-Kalan’, whose winter period lasts for 40 days in which cold wave sweeps over the area and the temperature drops significantly, causing freezing of water masses including the lake. and water supply lines at various points in the valley. The probability of snow storms is highest during this period and most areas, especially high altitude areas, experience severe blizzards. ‘Chilla-e-Kalan’ will end on January 31. However, after that cold conditions will continue with ‘Chilla-e-Khurd’ (small refreedo) and ‘Chilla-e-bachcha’ (baby refreedo) of 20 days duration.