Anantnag out-freezes hill resorts

Anantnag, Dec 21: South Kashmir’s Anantnag town has been reeling under unprecedented freezing conditions over the past two weeks, with minimum temperatures plummeting to record lows. On Saturday night, the town recorded a bone-chilling low of minus 10.5 degrees Celsius, making it colder than even Shopian, which traditionally experiences the harshest winters and recorded minus 10.4 degrees Celsius.

This marked the first time Anantnag’s temperature dipped into double digits, placing it among the coldest places in Kashmir.

In comparison, the hilly tourist resorts of Pahalgam, Sonmarg, and Gulmarg experienced slightly less freezing conditions, with temperatures recorded at minus 8.6 degrees Celsius, minus 8.8 degrees Celsius, and minus 6.2 degrees Celsius.

Larnoo, in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district, recorded a low of minus 9.3 degrees Celsius, slightly higher than Anantnag town.

Pulwama also registered frigid conditions, with the mercury dipping to minus 10.3 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund, located on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, recorded a minimum temperature of -8.2 degrees Celsius, while Kulgam experienced a low of minus 7 degrees Celsius.

The night before the onset of Chillai Kalan – the 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir - Anantnag recorded a temperature of minus 9.9 degrees Celsius, slightly below Shopian’s minus 10 degrees Celsius.

“Anantnag is a low-lying area, and the temperatures here this winter are unexpectedly low compared to previous years,” an independent weatherman said.

He said that it is unprecedented for Anantnag’s temperatures to drop lower than those of Pahalgam, Kokernag, or Shopian.

Last week, the Meteorological Department attributed the freezing temperatures in south Kashmir to snowfall on Margan Top, and Sinthan Top along the Kokernag-Kishtwar road, and the Mughal Road.