Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Dec 26 Minimum temperatures continued to dip at night in most parts of Kashmir even as dense fog disrupted early morning life for the second consecutive day in the Valley today with Weatherman forecasting fog to continue till December 31.
A dense layer of fog engulfed Srinagar city and other parts of the Valley, affecting normal life for the second consecutive day. There was less than usual traffic on roads in the morning while vehicles were seen plying at low speeds due to the reduced visibility.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ – the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably, leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the Dal lake, as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the Valley.
The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period and most areas, especially the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall. ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ will end on January 31.
The Director Meteorological department, Mukhtar Ahmad said the weather is likely to remain mainly dry till the end of the month. “The fog is likely to continue till the month end,” he added.
However, the cold conditions will continue after that with a 20-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold).
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius on last night, a slight decrease from the previous night’s minus 2.3 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.7 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night’s minus 4.3 degrees Celsius. It was the coldest recorded place in the Kashmir Valley.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius. Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag town saw the mercury settle at minus 2.0 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a minimum of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.
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