Amid an unyielding dry and cold wave, Kashmir experienced no respite on Wednesday as minimum temperatures persisted several degrees below freezing point.
On Tuesday night, Anantnag town emerged as the coldest spot in Jammu and Kashmir, with the mercury plummeting over seven degrees below freezing, creating a thin layer of ice on Dal Lake’s surface.
For the second consecutive night, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, causing residents living in houseboats on the lake to face difficulties navigating through the icy waters.
The extreme cold-wave conditions have led to frozen water supply pipes in various parts of Kashmir, adding to the challenges the locals face.
Pahalgam, a vital base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius.
In the north, the Gulmarg skiing resort logged a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius. In comparison, Qazigund recorded minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag town settled at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, and Kupwara marked a minimum of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius.
Kashmir has endured an extended dry spell, with no precipitation forecast for the next six days. December witnessed a 79 per cent deficit in rainfall, exacerbating the prevailing cold conditions.
Most plain areas of Kashmir have not witnessed any snowfall, and the upper reaches have received below-average snowfall by the end of December. The absence of cloud cover has further intensified the cold, particularly in Srinagar.
The region is currently in the grip of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan,’ 40 days marked by the harshest winter conditions, leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the iconic Dal Lake, and water supply lines across the valley.
The chances of snowfall are highest during this period, and it is expected to persist until January 31. Following ‘Chilla-i-Kalan,’ a 20-day ‘Chilla-i-Khurd‘ (small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha‘ (baby cold) will continue to keep the cold conditions entrenched in the Kashmir Valley.