Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 27: Kashmir continued to reel under intense cold as dense fog disrupted early morning life for the third consecutive day in the region today.
A dense layer of fog engulfed Srinagar and its adjoining areas and visibility in the city was hardly a few meters.
The Transport Department has issued an extensive advisory for motorists in the city driving through what they termed as one of the worst foggy conditions.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius last night, a slight increase from the previous night’s minus 3.0 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, marginally up from the previous night’s minus 4.7 degrees Celsius. It was the coldest recorded place in the Valley.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, dropping slightly from previous night’s minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, Kokernag town saw the mercury settle at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a minimum of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius.
The Meteorological Department said the weather is likely to remain mainly dry till the end of the month and foggy conditions will continue this week.
The visibility in the city has reduced to hardly a few metres due to the fog cover. There was less than usual traffic on roads in the morning while vehicles were seen moving 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 and 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. However, the cold conditions will continue after that with a 20-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) followed by a 10-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold).
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