SRINAGAR: Srinagar the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, witnessed coldest night of the season after the mercury dropped to minus 3.5 degree. World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and Qazigund in Kashmir and Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region also recorded the coldest night of the winter, so far. A Met department spokesperson said the weather will remain dry and cold during the next 24 hours, which could result in further drop in the night temperature. However, the day temperature will be near normal though icy cold winds would continue.
Weather is likely to change from December 13, a day before polling in the fourth phase.
It was the coldest night of the season so far after the minimum temperature dropped to minus 3.5 degree. However, frozen taps melted as the day progressed after sun appeared.
Earlier, the coldest was recorded on December 7, when the minimum temperature was minus 2.6 degree. However, despite below freezing temperature, repair and reconstruction work of shops and houses damaged in the September floods was going on.
Water bodies, including nallahs were frozen in the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which is still waiting for first major snowfall.
Met spokesperson said the minimum temperature was minus 5 degree, coldest of the season. Earlier coldest was minus 3.4 degree, recorded on November 30. However, those associated with tourism, particularly, winter sports are praying for heavy snowfall which could bring life to ski slopes.
After recording above normal minimum temperature during the past about one week, Pahalgam, a health resort in south Kashmir recorded minus 5 degree night temperature. However, it was second coldest as so far lowest was minus 5.2 degree recorded on December 3.
Water level in river Lidder passing through the Pahalgam, base camp of holy Amanath cave shrine and other water bodies has dropped as snow on higher reaches remained frozen. Drivers and conductors were seen trying to defreeze the frozen diesel in their vehicle tanks after the minimum temperature dropped to minus 3.6 degree at Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu highway. This was the coldest night of the season so far, as earlier lowest was minus 3.6 degree recorded on December 8.
However, Kokernag a tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded minus 1.6 degree night temperature, more than 2 notches above normal while at Kupwara a border district in north Kashmir the minimum temperature was minus 1.6 degree, half a notch below normal
Water bodies, including rivers and lakes remained frozed in Leh after the Buddhist dominated district witnessed further drop in the night temperature. Met spokesperson said it was minus 13 degree against minus 12.8 degree recorded yesterday, while at border town of Kargil on Srinagar-Jammu national highway it was minus 11.6 degree against yesterday’s minus 10.2 degree. The highway, connecting the Ladakh region with the rest of the state remained through because of dry weather. The road link remained closed during winter months due to very heavy snowfall between Sonamarg to Meenamarg on either side of the Zojila pass.
(AGENCIES)
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