Sub-zero chill sweeps across Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 19: Srinagar recorded its coldest night of the season at minus 6 degrees Celsius, while Shopian in south Kashmir shivered at a bone-chilling minus 10 degrees Celsius and the freezing conditions caused water bodies and pipes to partially ice over.

Officials said that a thin layer of fog enveloped parts of Srinagar city, which recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6 degrees Celsius, a sharp drop from the previous night’s minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.

The temperature was 4 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average, making Wednesday night the coldest of the season so far.

The freezing temperatures caused the fringes of several water bodies, including Dal Lake, to ice over.

Water supply lines in many areas of Srinagar and across Kashmir froze, exacerbating challenges for residents.

In south Kashmir, Pahalgam health resort recorded a minimum of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, a degree lower than the previous night.

Gulmarg ski resort recorded a low of minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Konibal, a small village near Pampore, was the coldest location in Kashmir, with temperatures dipping to minus 8.4 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir, freezes at minus 7 degrees Celsius and Kokernag at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius.

In north Kashmir, Kupwara recorded minus 6.2 degrees Celsius while Bandipora and Baramulla registered minus 6.5 degrees Celsius and -5.7 degrees Celsius.

Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir saw lows of minus 6.9 degrees Celsius and minus 6.1 degrees Celsius.

In south Kashmir, Pulwama recorded a chilling minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, Anantnag minus 9 degrees Celsius, Kulgam minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, Shopian stood out as the coldest at minus 10 degrees Celsius, and Larnoo recorded minus 8.3 degrees Celsius.

Jammu city recorded a relatively milder minimum temperature of 5.1 degrees Celsius.

Banihal recorded minus 1.9 degrees Celsius, Batote 2.5 degrees Celsius, Katra 6.6 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah Minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, Kishtwar 3 degrees Celsius, and Poonch 1.1 degrees Celsius.

Padder recorded minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, Reasi 1.4 degrees Celsius, and Udhampur dipped to 0.1 degrees Celsius.

In Ladakh, Leh registered a bone-chilling minus 11.2 degrees Celsius, while Kargil recorded an even colder minus 13.5 degrees Celsius.

The Zojila Pass, which connects Kashmir Valley with Ladakh, continued to experience some of the harshest conditions in the region.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department predicted mainly dry weather until December 26, with a possibility of light snowfall in the higher reaches on the night of December 21 and 22.

Another spell of light snow is expected in isolated areas between the night of December 27 and the morning of December 28.

However, the cold wave is likely to persist with temperatures forecast to dip further in the coming days.