Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 21: The 40-day period of harshest winter in Kashmir valley, known as 'Chillai-Kalan', began today with a cold morning, even as the upper reaches of the Valley received fresh snowfall of the season.
Reports said that the higher reaches of Valley including the famous tourist spots of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg received fresh spell of snowfall this morning as the harshest winter period in the Valley started today. The snowfall also led to decline in the temperature.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.9 degrees celsius, almost a degree down from the previous night's minus 3.0 degrees celsius.
The ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.0 degrees celsius, same as the previous night.
The mercury in Pahalgam hill resort, which serves as a base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, settled at a low of minus 5.6 degrees celsius, as against minus 7.3 degrees celsius the previous night.
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir valley, recorded a low of minus 3.2 degrees celsius, compared to the previous nights minus 4.8 degrees celsius.
Kokernag, in south Kashmir, which recorded a low of minus 4.1 degrees celsius the previous night, registered an increase of two degrees in the night temperature to settle at a low of minus 2.2 degrees celsius.
Kupwara in north Kashmir also recorded a rise of two degrees in the night temperature as the mercury settled at a low of minus 3.1 degrees celsius compared to the previous night's minus 5.2 degrees celsius.
Leh remained the coldest place in the state and registered a temperature of minus 12.4 degrees celsius, against minus 11.2 degrees celsius the previous night. The nearby Kargil town registered the same minimum temperature as the previous night's low of minus 11.2 degrees celsius. |
