Kashmir: Cold wave prevails, minimum temperature falls below freezing point
The minimum temperature in Kashmir stayed below freezing point on Wednesday and is expected to remain so until the next week with the weatherman forecasting the possibility of a Western Disturbance hitting the Valley on February 2. Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 2 degree Celsius, up from minus 2.4 degree Celsius the previous night, officials said.
Minimum temperature around the Kashmir Valley
Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.4 degree Celsius, down from minus 2.8 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature in Gulmarg settled at minus 12 degree Celsius. Pahalgam tourist resort recorded a low of minus 7.7 degree Celsius, down from minus 7.1 degree Celsius. Kupwara recorded a low of minus 2 degree Celsius, while Kokernag in the south recorded minus 8.3 degree Celsius.
Chillai-Kalan: The 40-day harshest winter period
Kashmir is currently under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period where the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the Dal Lake. While Chillai-Kalan, which began on December 21 will end on January 31, the cold wave will continue even after that in the Valley with a 20-day-long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) and a 10-day-long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold).
Haryana and Punjab are also shivering
Meanwhile, other parts of North India are also facing severe cold conditions. Minimum temperatures hovered below normal limits in Haryana and Punjab on Wednesday, with Adampur being recorded as the coldest place in the two states at 1 degree Celsius, the MeT Department said. Severe cold wave conditions also prevailed in Amritsar, which recorded a low of 1.4 degree Celsius, it said.
