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| Coldest night in Srinagar at minus 7.8 degree, water bodies, roads frozen | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 13: The world-famous Dal Lake and other water bodies in the union territory froze after the summer capital, Srinagar, recorded the coldest night of the season so far at minus 7.8 degree, which was 5.6 notches below normal minimum temperature.
It was minus 0.9 degree which was 1.2 degree above normal on Tuesday when the maximum temperature was 5.4 degree, one notch below normal.
However, much to the delight of the people, the sun came out today though icy cold winds also continued in the city.
As the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and other concerned departments failed to clear snow on majority lanes, by-lanes and interior roads, the pedestrian and vehicular movement remained badly affected due to slippery conditions.
Shikarawalas were finding it difficult to move through frozen parts of the lake. Tourists staying in houseboats and nearby hotels had a pleasant surprise to see frozen parts of the lake.
It was in 1965 when the entire lake was frozen and jeep crossed the frozen surface from one end to another end. In the late 80s and 90s, the frozen lake became a major attraction for tourists and locals, who took photographs and played cricket on the icy surface. Later, walking and playing on the frozen surface of the lake was banned and police personnel were deployed to prevent any accident.
Life was thrown out of gear due to frozen water. People find it difficult to walk on the roads due to slippery conditions. Dozens of people were injured after they fell due to slippery conditions as snow on majority link roads, lanes and by-lanes have not yet been removed. We have not seen such a bad situation in the 80s when SMC was not so powerful and there were no snow clearance machines. Still, lanes, by-lanes and interior roads were being cleared of snow by engaging labourers, elderly persons said.
Very few vehicles were seen on the roads in the morning, moving in a very low speed due to slippery conditions in the city. However, things changed after the sun appeared, much to the delight of people though icy cold winds also continued.
Majority shops and business establishments, including at historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, reopened only after 1000 hrs. however, the "Haresa" famous winter dish in Kashmir, witnessed heavy rush of customers. People complained of the lake of passenger transport service available in the morning and in the evening. They alleged that in the absence of public transport, three-wheelers and cabs are charging them several time extra.
People in many areas, including in the outskirts, complained of water shortage. Our taps were frozen due to chill, they said and hoped that things may improve as the day progresses. However, some people were seen using hot water and burning wood to get water in the taps.
A Met department spokesman said today that the sky would be mainly clear to generally cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 6 and minus 7 respectively in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.
He said due to clear sky during the night, the minimum temperature drops but maximum temperature improves. Similarly, when the sky remained cloudy minimum temperature improves and day become chilly, he said. |
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