SRINAGAR: Mercury at most places in Kashmir and Ladakh region dropped today, even as the Valley braces up for the possibility of snowfall over two days from tomorrow.
There was some respite in cold conditions in Srinagar where the minimum temperature increased by over a degree, as the mercury settled at minus 2.7 degrees Celsius against yesterday’s minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, an official of the MeT department said here.
He said Kupwara town in north Kashmir and Kokernag in south also experienced slight respite in the cold conditions as the mercury in the twin towns registered an increase from the previous night and settled at a low of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius and minus 1.7 degrees Celsius.
The cold wave tightened its grip in other places in Kashmir division with Qazigund – the gateway town to the Valley along Srinagar-Jammu National Highway recording the minimum of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He said the mercury in Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, settled at a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius a decrease of over a degree from yesterday’s minus 5.3 degrees Celsius.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, the star attraction for the tourists visiting the valley during winter, registered a low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night’s low of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.
The official said the mercury in Leh, in the frontier Ladakh region, went down by over three degrees as it recorded a low of minus 12.6 degrees Celsius against the previous night’s minus 9.2 degrees Celsius.
The nearby town of Kargil registered the minimum of minus 15 degrees Celsius as compared to yesterday’s low of minus 10 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Kashmir Valley is currently under the grip of the 40-day harsh winter period known as ‘Chillai-Kalan’ which began on December 21 and during which the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum.
Though the Chillai-Kalan ends on January 31, the cold wave usually continues even after that.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
The MeT Office here has said that there is possibility of light snowfall in the plains and moderate snowfall in the higher reaches of the Valley over two days from tomorrow.
The state government has asked the administration to gear up for providing uninterrupted essential services to people during the anticipated snowfall in the Valley.
Minister for Public Works Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari held a video conference with Deputy Commissioners of the Valley last evening and took stock of winter preparedness, stock position and power supply.
The Minister was informed that 34 snow clearance machines were on stand-by mode in Srinagar city for clearing the snow from roads.
A total of 111 snow clearance machines have been deployed for the entire Valley with a provision of bringing 14 more such machines for ensuring the opening of roads within a minimum possible time, an official spokesman said.
He said the Minister asked the officials to undertake snow clearance during night hours so that people wake up to clear roads.
While reviewing the stock position in the Valley, the Minister was informed there is a food stock of 36 days and LPG stock of 15 days available in the Valley, the spokesman said. (AGENCIES)
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