Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 13: Kashmir valley is in the grip of cold wave conditions due to dry weather and clear skies during the night which led to partial freezing of the water bodies and taps.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, down from minus 3.2 degrees Celsius the city had experienced a night before. Srinagar recorded a maximum of 12.7 degree Celsius.
The night temperature in Qazigund, in South Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius down from yesterday’s minus 3.2 degrees Celsius. Qazigund recorded a maximum of 12.6 degree Celsius.
In Kokernag town, the mercury decreased marginally to minus 2.7 degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded a maximum of 11.1 degree Celsius.
Kupwara in North Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius. Kupwara recorded a maximum of 12.6 degree Celsius.
The night temperature in Pahalgam dipped nearly three degrees from the previous night to settle at minus 6.1 degrees Celsius last night.
Gulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius. The resort was the only place in the Valley where the temperature increased last night.
Leh had experienced an improvement in temperature the previous night when the mercury rose nearly six degrees to settle at a low of minus 7.7 degrees Celsius. However, the cold wave tightened its grip again and the minimum temperature dropped over seven degrees last night. The town recorded a low of minus 15.0 degrees Celsius. Leh was the coldest place recorded in the State. Leh recorded a maximum of 9.2 degree Celsius.
The fringes of many water bodies, including the famous Dal lake, froze due to extreme cold conditions, which have also led to freezing of water supply pipes in many areas causing difficulties to the residents.
People in the Valley are also facing problems in these extreme climatic conditions on the electricity supply front as well. There are frequent power outages lasting a minimum of six hours in city areas and 18 hours in rural areas. The power crisis has worsened due to continuous dry weather conditions.
Kashmir is now under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ a 40- day harshest period of winter. It ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in the Valley.
The MeT office said the weather is likely to remain dry till January 17 which will lead to further dip in night temperatures.
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