SRINAGAR – Interior parts of the world famous Dal Lake besides other water bodies were frozen due to further drop in the mercury in the Kashmir valley, where sun was playing hide and seek on Wednesday.
Majority areas in the valley, including famed ski resort of Gulmarg, witnessed coldest night of the season.
A Met department spokesman said there could be isolated rain or snow on Thursday followed another spell of wet weather during the subsequent two days in the Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The minimum and maximum temperatures in summer capital of the UT J&K, Srinagar, remained below normal due to icy cold winds coming from the surrounding mountains which are under a blanket of snow, clearly visible from civil lines.
Spokesman said the maximum temperature in Srinagar on Tuesday was 8.1 degree, about one degree below normal despite sunny day. However, people continued to wear woollen and warm cloths besides covered their head with caps as the intensity of the heat of sun was low due to icy winds.
He said the minimum temperature was minus 3.7 degree, 2.2 degree below normal.
A group of journalists today saw interior part of the Dal Lake, one of the main tourist attractions in Srinagar, frozen this morning. However, as the day progress, frozen water defreeze again. The Lake was totally frozen first in 1965 when a jeep crossed over frozen water from one to another end. Later, it was also frozen again in 80s and 90s and latest last year.
Many other water bodies, particularly near banks, drain and taps were also frozen at some places in the city and outskirts.
He said the sky would be partly cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 8 degree and minus 1 degree respectively during the next 24 hours in Srinagar.
Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded coldest night of the season after the minimum dropped further and settled at minus 11.5 degree, half a notch colder than yesterday, followed by health resort of Pahalgam in south valley, where the minimum temperature was minus 10.3 degree. The water level in river Lidder and other water bodies has dropped as the snow on mountains remained frozen.
Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway also recorded coldest night at minus 8 degree, about 1.5 degree less than yesterday. Drivers were seen struggling to start their vehicles in the morning. Later drivers burn wood to defreeze in vehicle tanks.
Kokernag and Kupwara recorded minus 6.4 degree minimum temperature, several degrees below normal.
The spokesman said due to open sky during night, the minimum temperature witness drop. There are chances of improvement during the next 24 hours when there could be isolated rain or snow in the valley.
Most water bodies in Ladakh region remained frozen and people are being supplied water through tankers. However, majority people in far flung and remote areas use spring water which remains warm in winter and cold during summer. In some areas people are melting snow for water purpose.
Drass continued to shiver after the minimum temperature witnessed further drop and settled at minus 27.7 degree against yesterdays minus 27.2 degree.
At Leh the minimum temperature was minus 17.8 degree against minus 12 degree recorded yesterday.
Met spokesman said the sky would be generally cloudy to very light snow and the minimum and maximum temperatures would be around 1 degree and minus 12 degree respectively at Leh during the next 24 hours.
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