Kashmir in cold wave grip, water bodies freeze

Huge icicles formed as a result of freezing temperature at Chandanwari in Pahalgam on Thursday. —Excelsior/Younis Khaliq
Huge icicles formed as a result of freezing temperature at Chandanwari in Pahalgam on Thursday. —Excelsior/Younis Khaliq

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Jan 12: Kashmir valley and Ladakh region are in the grip of intense cold wave conditions with temperatures plummeting several degrees below zero, freezing water bodies including Dal lake and water taps.
People woke up to a chilly morning though Sun came out for a brief period of time in Srinagar, where night temperature plunged and settled at minus 5 degree Celsius, against minus 4.1 degree Celsius recorded yesterday. People could be seen burning wood to unfreeze the taps frozen during the night due to about four notches below normal temperature in Srinagar.
All water bodies, particularly water near the banks and shaded areas in world famous Dal lake was frozen and shikarawallas could be seen breaking the ice to make way for their shikaras.
The night temperature in Leh in Ladakh region witnessed further dip and settled at minus 17.7 degree Celsius, against minus 16 degree Celsius recorded yesterday while the mercury plunged and settled at minus 15.6 degree Celsius, against 14 degree Celsius recorded yesterday in Kargil.
Gulmarg, in north Kashmir, continued to remain the coldest place in Kashmir Valley. The ski resort recorded the coldest night of the season after mercury dipped and settled at minus 13.5 degree Celsius, against minus 13 degree Celsius recorded yesterday. The night temperature was about 6 degree Celsius below normal.
Pahalgam recorded the coldest night of the season after temperature further dipped and settled at about six degrees below normal. Against minus 12.4 degree Celsius recorded yesterday, the night temperature was minus 13 degree Celsius.
Qazigund also recorded the coldest night of the season after mercury plunged and settled at minus 7.2 degree Celsius, which is about 4 degree Celsius below normal. The night temperature recorded yesterday at Qazigund was minus 4.2 degree Celsius.
Kupwara in north Kashmir witnessed some improvement in the night temperature though it was still three degree C below normal. Against minus 6.2 degree Celsius recorded yesterday, the night temperature was minus 5.8 degree Celsius.
Kokernag also witnessed the coldest night of the season after the temperature dipped and settled at minus 7.1 degree Celsius, against minus 5.9 degree Celsius recorded yesterday. The night temperature recorded in Kokernag was about three degree below normal.
Jammu recorded a minimum of 3.6 degree Celsius, Katra 3.0 degree Celsius, Banihal minus 2.5 degree Celsius, Batote minus 1.0 degree Celsius and Bhaderwah minus 5.6 degree Celsius.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 3.2 degree Celsius, Qazigund 2.4 degree Celsius, Pahalgam 3.0 degree Celsius, Kokernag minus 0.1 degree Celsius, Kupwara 5.5 degree Celsius, Gulmarg minus 2.5 degree Celsius,  Leh minus 0.9 degree Celsius and Kargil minus 2.4 degree Celsius.
Jammu recorded a maximum of 18 degree Celsius, Katra 15.9 degree Celsius, Banihal 5.8 degree Celsius, Batote 8.8 degree Celsius and Bhaderwah 8.8 degree Celsius.
A Meteorological Departm-ent official said here that light rain and snow will occur at isolated places during the next 24 hours and scattered to widespread in the subsequent 48 hours in the Valley.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic Kashmir, Fayaz Ahmad Lone told Excelsior that keeping in view the condition of road especially, between Udhampur – Ramsoo, only one way movement of traffic is possible on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway tomorrow.
“In view of the above and keeping in view the safety of the commuters and subject to fair weather and good condition of road movement of HMVs (excluding Trailers and multi-axle vehicles) including Tankers and convoys of Army, BSF, CRPF etc. shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar  side only in a regulated manner tomorrow. Movement of all such type of vehicles shall be allowed from Nagrora, Jammu from 0500 to 1100 hours and from Udhampur up to 1230 hours only”, he said.
“No movement of HMVs including that of convoys of Army, BSF, CRPF etc. shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Jammu side on 13.01.2017 under any circumstances”, said the SSP.
“However, in order to facilitate the passengers, movement of LMVs and light passenger vehicles (excluding Tempo Traveller and buses) shall be allowed both ways. The movement of all such vehicles shall be allowed from Nagrota, Jammu towards  Srinagar side from 0500 hours up to 1000 hours and at Udhampur up to 1130 hours only.  However, the movement of vehicles bound Doda/ Kishtwar only shall be allowed at Nagrota up to 1300 hours and at Udhampur up to 1400 hours. Further movement of all such type of vehicles from Srinagar towards Jammu side shall be allowed at Levdora, Qazigund from 0800 hours up to 1500 hours only. Strict implementation of cut off timings shall be ensured for hassle free movement of traffic on NHW”, he said.
He said close co-ordination is being maintained with District Police to enforce the traffic plan strictly.  “Strong nakas shall be established at appropriate places for implementation of the cut off timings in letter and spirit”, he said.

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