Kashmir shivers under crystal sky
Srinagar, Jan 3: As Chillai Kalan nears the end of its second week, intense cold conditions on Saturday continued across Kashmir, with several locations recording sub-zero night temperatures.
Clear night skies contributed to a further drop in minimum temperatures, while the prolonged cold continued to affect daily routines and increase demand for heating devices across the Valley.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, while nearby areas – Pampore recorded minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, Ganderbal minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, and Budgam minus 2 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund registered a minimum of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, Awantipora minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, and Anantnag shivered at minus 3 degrees Celsius, IMD officials said.
According to the officials, colder conditions prevailed in south Kashmir with Pulwama at minus 3.9 degrees Celsius and Shopian at minus 4.7 degrees Celsius, while tourist destination Pahalgam recorded minus 5.2 degrees Celsius.
In north Kashmir, Kupwara saw a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, Baramulla minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, and Bandipora minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.
The tourist resort of Gulmarg was the coldest station at minus 6.5 degrees Celsius.
As temperatures dropped further during the ongoing cold spell, demand for heating appliances, including electric heaters, blowers, and electric blankets, has risen sharply across Kashmir, traders said.
“Sales have picked up significantly over the past week as people prepare for prolonged freezing nights,” said Muhammad Shafi, a local electrical goods dealer in Srinagar. “Portable heaters and blowers were in particularly high demand.”
In both urban and rural areas, residents have also made traditional hammams fully functional, while electric hammams are being widely used to maintain indoor warmth.
“We rely on the hammams throughout Chillai Kalan because it keeps the house warm for long hours,” said Altaf Ahmad of Anantnag’s S K Colony.
However, the use of the traditional Kangri, a firepot woven in wicker, has declined in urban areas due to safety concerns and the availability of electric heating, though it continues to be commonly used in rural households, especially during early mornings and evenings.
“Electric hammams are easy to use, but due to a shortage of electricity, people here use mostly traditional hammams and kangris,” said Ghulam Muhammad of Shopian’s Kellar block.
Many residents said that the biting cold has restricted the movement of people.
“People largely choose to stay indoors due to icy winds,” residents from different parts of Kashmir said.
Meteorological Department officials said the cold spell is expected to continue in the days ahead, with low temperatures likely to prevail across Kashmir as the weather will remain largely dry till January 5.
