Slight respite from cold conditions in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 19: There was some respite from cold wave conditions in Kashmir as minimum temperatures across the valley rose by a couple of degrees, officials said here on Monday.

Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, up from the minus 4.7 degrees Celsius on the previous night.

The tourist resort of Sonamarg in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district registered a low of minus 8.3 degrees Celsius and was the coldest recorded place in the valley.

Shopian and Pulwama towns in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.7 degrees and minus 5.1 degrees Celsius respectively.

Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

The night temperature in the popular ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district settled at a low of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, they said.

The minimum temperature in Qazigund, the gateway town of the valley, settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius and Kupwara minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, they added.

Kashmir valley is currently in the midst of 'Chilla-i-Kalan', 40 days of extreme cold, during which night temperatures often drop several degrees below the freezing point, and the chances of snowfall are the highest.

'Chilla-i-Kalan', which began on December 21 last year, ends on January 30.