Srinagar, Jan 5: Kashmir today received fresh bout of snowfall as temperature in the summer capital Srinagar dipped to 2.0 degrees Celsius, five notches below the normal level.
“Light snowfall was recorded at many places in Kashmir including Srinagar, Gulmarg, Kokernag, Kulgam and Kupwara,” a MET department official said here.He said the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg received around 2 inch of snowfall, while Srinagar recorded 0.5 cm of snow.The official said the weather would be cloudy tomorrow but it is expected to be dry.Owing to the overcast conditions the day temperature across the Valley went down.Srinagar recorded a maximum of 2.0 degrees Celsius, which is five degrees below the normal for this part of the season, he said.The city had recorded the lowest day temperature of 0.5 degree Celsius on Tuesday.The valley is currently going through ‘Chillai-Kalan’, considered as the harshest 40-day winter period, which began on December 21.During this period, the Valley and Ladakh region experience intense cold conditions and possibility of snowfall is also maximum and most frequent.The Valley received heavy snowfall on the New Year’s eve which disrupted normal life as authorities snapped electricity to many parts as a precautionary measure.Srinagar-Jammu highway was open for one-way traffic Sunday and the authorities said snowfall started at some places along the road. The traffic authorities have asked passengers to verify the status of the highway before leaving for their destinations on Monday.Fresh snowfall started in most parts of Kashmir Sunday afternoon. “This hangover will remain for quite some time and it would not affect normal life at all,” Director MeT Department Sonam Lotus told Greater Kashmir adding that they expect snow and rainfall in Kashmir on January 8 and 9. “On Monday the sky would be cloudy but hopefully there would be no rains or snow,” he said.With chill intensifying on Sunday, normal life across Kashmir was affected. Further drop in temperature resulted in freezing of taps and water bodies including Dal Lake.Night temperature in Srinagar was recorded at minus 4.2 degree Celsius. The taps in residential houses were frozen, affecting water supply. At various places in Srinagar, the people were seen burning wood to defreeze frozen taps.This was second coldest night of this winter so far, MeT officials said adding that earlier the coldest night was recorded on December 30 with temperature dipping to minus 5.3 degree Celsius. Reports said that parts of Dal Lake were frozen today.MeT officials said minimum temperature in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir, went over four degrees down from the previous night’s minus 7.7 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 12.4 degrees Celsius last night, while as the ski-resort of Gulmarg registered a low of minus 9.8 degrees Celsius, as against the previous night’s minus 11.6 degrees Celsius. They said the minimum temperature in Qazigund decreased by over four degrees to settle at minus 8.0 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 3.8 degrees Celsius the previous night, while as Kokernag recorded a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, down by over four degrees from minus 6.3 degrees Celsius the previous night.The minimum temperature in Kupwara, in north Kashmir, settled at minus 2.8 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night’s minus 0.8 degree Celsius, official said.MeT officials said that Leh area of Ladakh region, recorded a low of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius against the previous night’s minus 14.7 degrees Celsius while as the mercury in Kargil settled at a low of minus 16.1 degrees Celsius, over three degrees down from minus 13.0 degrees Celsius the previous night.
HIGHWAY OPENSrinagar- Jammu highway was open for one-way traffic on Sunday. However, there are reports of fresh snowfall on the road at least at two places. Traffic police officials said that on Monday travelers must verify the status of the highway before leaving for their destinations.Inspector General of Police (IGP) Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan said that around 3000 vehicles crossed Jawahar tunnel Sunday. He said that Patnitop and Jawahar tunnel areas received fresh snowfall on Sunday. “It snowing at these places heavily,” IGP Khan said adding that they can’t say anything about the traffic movement on highway on Monday. Traffic is scheduled to move from Srinagar to Jammu on Monday.
(With inputs from PTI)
