Cold wave intensifies in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 17: The cold wave gripping Jammu and Kashmir intensified further as minimum temperatures plunged several degrees below freezing point, leading to frozen water bodies and water supply lines.

In Srinagar, the minimum temperature dropped to minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, a sharp fall from the previous night’s minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.

The extreme cold caused the fringes of Dal Lake and other water bodies to freeze.

Gulmarg ski resort recorded a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius, the same as the previous night.

Pahalgam health resort registered a bone-chilling minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, a drop from minus 5 degrees recorded the previous night.

Konibal, in Pampore town, emerged as the coldest place in Kashmir with the mercury plunging to a freezing minus 8.5 degrees Celsius.

In south Kashmir, Qazigund, known as the gateway to Kashmir, recorded minus 6 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag reported minus 5.7 degrees Celsius.

Pulwama and Shopian shivered under extreme cold, recording lows of minus 8.5 degrees Celsius and minus 8.9 degrees Celsius.

Kulgam registered minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.

In north Kashmir, Kupwara recorded a minimum of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, while Bandipora also reported a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius.

Central Kashmir saw Budgam recording minus 6.7 degrees Celsius while Ganderbal dipped to minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.

The cold desert of Ladakh remained under severe frigid conditions.

Drass recorded a spine-chilling low of minus 13.8 degrees Celsius while Kargil registered minus 12.5 degrees Celsius.

Leh and Upshi recorded lows of minus 8.8 degrees Celsius and minus 13.1 degrees Celsius.

In contrast to the harsh conditions in Kashmir and Ladakh, several areas in the Jammu division experienced relatively warmer nights.

Katra recorded the highest minimum temperature at 6.7 degrees Celsius followed by Jammu at 4.9 degrees Celsius and Kathua at 4.8 degrees Celsius.

However, colder conditions prevailed in higher reaches with Bhaderwah dipping to minus 0.8 degrees Celsius, Udhampur to minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, and Rajouri to minus 2 degrees Celsius.

Samba recorded 0.5 degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Department officials here said that no significant change in the weather is expected in the coming days.

They said that the minimum temperatures are likely to fall further, and cold wave conditions are expected to persist across isolated to scattered places in Kashmir.

The MeT issued an advisory for residents, tourists, and transporters to exercise caution due to sub-freezing temperatures, icy road conditions, and fresh snowfall in the higher reaches.

People travelling to important passes and tourist destinations have been urged to follow administrative and traffic advisories to avoid any mishaps.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is open for traffic in both directions.

However, commuters have been advised to maintain lane discipline and avoid unnecessary stops, especially in the Ramban-Banihal sector, where the risk of landslides and shooting stones remains high.