Srinagar- Kashmir reeled under intense cold wave as the minimum temperature settled below the freezing point across the valley, officials said on Friday.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday night, down from minus 1.8 degrees Celsius the previous night, the officials said.
The city had recorded its lowest minimum temperature this winter on Wednesday when mercury fell to minus 2.5 degrees Celsius , they said.
The officials said Pahalgam, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, up from minus 4.2 degrees Celsius 24 hours earlier.
Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district also recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1 degrees Celsius.
The mercury in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, recorded minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius.
A weak Western Disturbance is likely to hit the region towards the weekend, the officials said, adding the precipitation will end the dry spell of weather in the valley.
The wintry conditions in the valley set-in much ahead of the beginning of extreme harsh weather conditions which usually start around the third week of December. ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day period of harsh winter in Kashmir, begins on December 21 every year.
Kupwara Admin Issues Weather Advisory
Meanwhile, ahead of the predicted light to moderate snowfall and rainfall, the administration in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday issued a weather advisory asking people to refrain from venturing in avalanche prone areas till improvement of weather.
The advisory was issued by the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Imam Din, in view of a prediction by the Meteorological Department for light to moderate snowfall and rainfall during 5th to 7th of this month, an official spokesperson said.
The advisory, he said, advised people of the district, especially in the upper reaches like Keran, Karnah, Machil, Budnamal, Jumgumd, Nowgam, Kumkadi and on the periphery of different Nallahs/rivers prone to floods, sloppy areas of the district in particular and advised them to refrain from venturing in avalanche prone areas till improvement of weather.
“The advisory further reads that in case of any urgency, general public can contact District Administration Control Room on phone number 01955-253522 and Police Control Room (PCR) Kupwara on 01955-252451 and PCR Handwara on 01955-262295,” he said.
He further said that all district and sectoral officers especially the officers and officials of Irrigation & FC, PHE, PDD, R&B, Mechanical and Revenue have been directed not to leave their respective Headquarters without permission from DC office and keep their men and machinery ready to meet any exigency. (PTI)
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