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No Respite From Cold, Kashmir Continues to Shiver

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Jan 11: There has been no respite from the cold in Indian administered Kashmir. The region continues to shiver with freezing cold on Wednesday with minimum and maximum temperature in the region continuously remaining below sub-zero level. A weather department official said in Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at - 3.3 degrees Celsius.

He said Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of - 1.0 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, which was the coldest day in many years. "We apprehend that the maximum temperature in Srinagar today will also be below freezing point," he said.

The official said Gulmarg skiing resort in North Kashmir recorded a low of - 14.8 degrees Celsius. "In Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, the minimum temperature dropped to - 10.7 degrees Celsius," he said.

He said Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of - 5.4 degrees Celsius while Kupwara town in North Kashmir recorded a low of - 4.4 degrees Celsius.

"The minimum temperature in Leh town of the mountainous Ladakh region had plunged to - 18.4 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Kargil district was recorded at - 17.4 degrees Celsius," he added.

Owing to intense cold and continuous below sub-zero temperature, the water taps, lakes and other water bodies in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir continued to freeze. The boatmen have to face a very tough time in the morning while rowing their boats in the frozen parts of Dal Lake. They have to break the frozen parts to clear way for their boats.

Besides, water taps in many residential areas in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir remained frozen. People lit small fires around them to defreeze them. Residents of several areas have to fetch water from distance as the water pipes have frozen completely.

Meanwhile, the weather department official said intense cold conditions will prevail in the region for some more time. "The night temperature may fall further," he said.

Kashmir has been witnessing the harshest part of winter Chillai-Kalaan. This period lasts for 40-day period and is considered the harshest part of the winter. It began on December 21 and lasts throughout January.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.