SRINAGAR : The world famous health resort of Pahalgam was coldest in the Kashmir valley with minus 7.2 degree celsius minimum temperature while there was no respite from the chill in Ladakh region, where Leh and Kargil continued to shiver with below minus 12 degree. People in the summer capital, Srinagar, also continued to shiver as the minimum temperature remained minus 4.2 degree, freezing water bodies and affecting water supply. A Met department spokesperson said weather will remain mainly dry and cold during the next 24 hours. However, there will be some respite from the cold as a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), originating in the Arabian Sea is likely to touch the region on December 21. There could be rain or snow on December 21 and 22 which could result in improvement in the minimum temperature. He said Pahalgam, which serves as base camp to annual holy Amarnath pilgrimage, witnessed coldest night of the season after the mercury dropped to minus 7.2 degree, 2.2 degree below normal. Earlier the coldest night was witnessed with minus 6.6 degree recorded on December 11. Water bodies and snow on upper heights remained frozen following which the water level in rivers, including Lidder has dropped considerably.
The famous ski resort of Gulmarg witnessed improvement in the minimum temperature as the sky was cloudy. He said the minimum temperature was minus 2.6 degree, 2.4 degree above normal. However, the ski slopes of Gulmarg still awaits first major snowfall.
Due to open sky and dry weather, people in Srinagar continued to shiver as the minimum temperature remained at minus 4.2 degree, two notches below normal, freezing water bodies, including parts of the famous Dal Lake. However, the day temperature remained above normal though icy cold winds continued, forcing people to cover themselves fully.
Driver and conductors were seen trying to defreeze diesel in their vehicles which had been frozen due to minus 3.6 degree temperature, 1.6 degree below normal at Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. This was the coldest night of the season, Met spokesman said. Kokernag, a tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded minus 3.8 degree while at Kupwara in north Kashmir, the minimum temperature was minus 4.8 degree, freezing water bodies.
Though there was some improvement in the minimum temperature at Leh and Kargil, but it remained below freezing point.
The spokesperson said at Leh it was minus 12.5 degree against yesterday’s minus 14.6 degree and Kargil, a border town on Srinagar-Leh National Highway closed for winter months, recorded minus 12.1 degree against yesterday’s minus 14.4 degree, which was coldest of the season so far. (AGENCIES)
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