Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 20: People in Kashmir valley had some respite from intense cold as night temperature showed some improvement and the authorities today closed Srinagar-Leh National Highway for winters.
Srinagar recorded the minimum temperature of minus 0.3 degree Celsius, an increase of four degrees from the previous nights low of minus 4.4 degree Celsius. As it was sunny day today, the maximum day temperature settled at 9.9 degree Celsius.
The mercury in Qazigund increased by a degree from the previous night’s low of minus 3.8 degree Celsius to settle at a low of minus 2.8 degree Celsius. The day temperature settled at 9.5 degree Celsius.
Pahalgam in South Kashmir, registered an increase of over five degree from minus 7.9 degree Celsius the previous night to settle at a low of minus 2.1 degree Celsius. The day temperature settled at 8.7 degree Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Kupwara in North Kashmir also increased by over three degrees to settle at a low of minus 1.3 degree Celsius, while Kokernag town in South Kashmir registered the minimum temperature of minus 1.6 degree Celsius, an increase of nearly two degree from the previous night. The day temperature of Kupwara and Kokernag settled at 12.1 degree Celsius and 7.5 degrees Celsius respectively.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.8 degree Celsius, nearly three degrees up from the previous nights low of minus 10.5 degree Celsius. The day temperature of the place settled at minus 0.2 degree Celsius.
The minimum temperature of Leh also went up by nearly three degrees from the previous nights minus 13.7 degree Celsius to settle at a low of minus 10.6 degree Celsius. Leh was the coldest recorded place in the State where day temperature settled at 3.1 degree Celsius.
The temperature in Kargil town increased by over a degree as the mercury there recorded a low of minus 9.0 degree Celsius against the previous nights minus 10.2 degrees Celsius. The day temperature of the place settled at minus 1.2 degree Celsius.
A MeT official said here that the weather is likely to remain mainly dry and cold over the week ahead and the night temperature will drop further below the freezing point.
In the meantime, authorities today closed Srinagar- Leh National Highway for winter to avoid any accident following slippery road conditions due to below freezing temperature.
A Traffic police official said: “We have closed the highway from today as per orders by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.”
He said the road has become very slippery particularly at Zojila, Meenmarg, Zero-Point, India Gate and other places, where the mercury remained below minus 10 to minus 15 degree Celsius during the night and sub zero during the day.
The highway used to be closed for six winter months from November 1 every year. However, for the past few years due to better weather and road conditions, the highway now remains open till weather permits.
The authorities here said that they have stored all essential commodities, including rice, wheat flour, sugar, kerosene oil, diesel, petrol, LPG cylinders and medicine at different places in the Ladakh region for winter months.
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