Freeze Maintains Firm Grip On Kashmir Valley

SRINAGAR  Kashmir Valley remained in the grip of the below freezing conditions a day after its summer capital endured its coldest December night in 11-years.

A meteorological department said on Tuesday that Srinagar recorded minus 5.5 degree Celsius, nearly a degree up from Mondays 6.8 degrees Celsius, the coldest December night in 11-years.

The all-time low recorded in the month of December in Srinagar is minus 12.8 degrees Celsius on December 13, 1934.

The cold wave resulted in freezing of some water bodies, including the fringes of the famous Dal Lake here, and residential water supply pipes.

The official said Qazigund the gateway town to the valley recorded a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, while the nearby Kokernag registered a low of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature in Pahalgam, also in south Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 7.7 degrees Celsius, the official said, adding the resort was colder than Gulmarg and the coldest place in the valley.

The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded the minimum temperature of minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, he said.

Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, he said.

The official said Leh recorded a low of minus 10.7 degrees Celsius on Monday night down from minus 14.7 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).

The weather office said that mainly dry weather will prevail over the state in next 24-hours.

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