Published: January 14, 2012
Srinagar Records Coldest Night in 16 Years
By Fayaz Wani
Srinagar, Jan 14: The night temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir, dipped to - 7.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest ever during the last 16 years as an intense cold wave swept across the region.
"The minimum temperature dipped to - 7.8 degrees Celsius in Srinagar last night. This is the lowest ever for the last 16 years. In 1995, the lowest recorded for the season in Srinagar was - 8.2 degrees," a weather department official said.
He said the lowest ever temperature in Srinagar has been - 14.2 degrees. It was recorded on January 31, 1893.
He said Gulmarg skiing resort in North Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of - 15.2 degrees Celsius.
"Qazigund in South Kashmir was freezing at - 13.6 degrees Celsius, making it the second coldest place in the Valley after Gulmarg. Kokernag in south Kashmir also recorded extreme sub-zero temperature with mercury settling at - 13.0 degrees Celsius followed by Pahalgam tourist resort at - 12.2 degrees Celsius," he said.
The official said Kargil in mountainous Ladakh region was shivering at - 17.2 degrees Celsius. "Kargil had yesterday recorded its coldest night of this winter at - 19.6 degrees Celsius. Leh town, also in Ladakh region, recorded a minimum temperature of - 13.6 degrees Celsius," he said.
The weather official said an approaching Western Disturbance would bring moderate snowfall in Srinagar and other places of the valley on Sunday and day after.
Meanwhile, Disaster Management Kashmir has advised general public to defer road travel on Srinagar-Jammu highway, only road link connecting Kashmir with rest of the world, between January 15 and 16 in view of expected snowfall.
The extreme chill across Kashmir has resulted in immense hardships to the residents with water freezing in supply lines. The famous Dal Lake and other water bodies have partially frozen.
People are facing difficulty in starting their vehicles early in the morning due to the intense cold wave.
Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.
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