| Chill intensifies in Kashmir ahead of another spell of snow, rain | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 5: Chilly weather conditions have intensified as the mercury dipped several degrees and settled below normal at most places in Kashmir valley, where another spell of fresh snow and rain is predicted from Monday.
Meanwhile, people continued to suffer as all the waterbodies remained frozen in the UT of Ladakh, where Drass was the coldest place in the region at minus 22.4 degree, followed by Leh, where the mercury settled at minus 16.4 degree.
A Met department spokesperson said that rain or snow would occur at isolated places during the next 24 hours in Kashmir valley. "A fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Monday," he said. He said due to the system created by this WD, heavy snow would occur at isolated places while many places in the valley would witness light to moderate rain and snow for two days from Monday.
After witnessing slight dip in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Sunday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. As the day progressed, chilly further intensified due to cloudy skies, coupled with ice cold winds. The mercury in Srinagar dipped about a degree from Saturday and at minus 1 degree, which is still above normal. The spokesperson said that widespread rain and snow would occur during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 3 degree and minus 1 degree, respectively
The mercury at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which received over 9 inches of fresh snow during the last 24 hours, dipped about 4 degree from Saturday and settled at minus 10.5 degree. Despite chilly weather conditions, tourists, including foreigners, could be seen waiting in long lines to get a chance to ride Gondola, the cable car. Kongdori and Apharwat, the highest point of the cable car project in Gulmarg, received moderate to heavy snowfall during the last 24 hours.
After witnessing fresh snowfall on Saturday, the night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped about 7 degree and settled at minus 9.4 degree. The night temperature at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag also dipped and settled at minus 3 degree, minus 4 degree and minus 4.2 degree, respectively. |
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