Kashmir Shivers Amid Intense Cold Wave; Temperatures Plunge Below Freezing
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: The Kashmir Valley remains firmly in the grip of a severe cold wave, with minimum temperatures hovering several degrees below freezing point across the region, the meteorological department reported on Tuesday.
Despite the freezing conditions, weather experts predict predominantly dry weather in the coming days, with only a slight chance of light snow in higher altitudes on January 15 and 16.
The cold wave has kept Srinagar frigid, with the minimum temperature recorded at minus 4.1 degrees Celsius on Monday night, a slight reprieve from the bone-chilling minus 5.1 degrees Celsius registered the previous night.
The iconic skiing destination of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, marginally higher than the preceding night’s minus 6.5 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam, a key base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, witnessed a drop to minus 7.8 degrees Celsius, colder than the prior night’s minus 8.4 degrees Celsius.
Other parts of the valley also faced biting cold, with Qazigund recording a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, Konibal in Pampore town at minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, Kupwara at minus 4.7 degrees Celsius, and Kokernag at minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.
The valley is currently enduring ‘Chillai-Kalan,’ the harshest 40-day period of winter that began on December 21. Known for its biting cold and frequent snowfall, ‘Chillai-Kalan’ plunges the region into sub-zero temperatures, freezing water bodies and making daily life challenging. This period ends on January 30 and is followed by ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (20 days of milder cold) and ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (10 days of baby cold).
Meteorologists expect the valley to remain predominantly cloudy but dry until January 18. The intense cold during ‘Chillai-Kalan’ continues to disrupt normalcy, with locals battling freezing pipes, icy roads, and power outages. However, it also attracts tourists who flock to destinations like Gulmarg to enjoy winter sports, providing a silver lining to an otherwise frigid spell.
Authorities and residents remain on alert, as extreme cold conditions persist, underscoring the challenges and resilience of life in the valley during winter’s peak.
