Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 2 : Chilly weather conditions have further intensified even as the mercury dipped and settled several degrees below normal across Kashmir valley, where the maximum temperature on Sunday witnessed some improvement due to sunshine though ice cold winds continued.
All water-bodies remained frozen due to extreme chilly weather conditions in Ladakh region, where people are dependent on hot water springs during winter months. There was no relief for people living in border town of Drass which was the coldest place in the region at minus 30 degree followed by Leh where the mercury dipped over 3 degree and settled at minus 15.9 degree.
A Met department spokesperson said that skies will be mainly clear during the next 24 hours in Kashmir valley, where the night would further dip due to dry weather though maximum temperature would improve.
After witnessing below normal night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Sunday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. However, as the day progressed, sun came out from behind the clouds, resulting in some improvement in the maximum temperature though ice cold winds continued. The night temperature in the city dipped about 2 degree from Saturday and settled at minus 4.2 degree, which is below normal.
During this 40-day-long Chilai Kalan, which ended on Wednesday, Srinagar received heavy snowfall, breaking about 30 year old record.
World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, was the coldest place in the valley after the night temperature dipped over 3 degree from Saturday and settled at minus 12.6 degree, which is below normal.
The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the only place in the region where the night temperature improved about a degree and settled at minus 11.5 degree. “Bright sunshine greeted tourists, including foreigners, who are out on ski slopes enjoying different activities,” a hotelier told /
The night temperature at Qazigund, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag dipped and settled at minus 5.2 degree, minus 6.9 degree and minus 5.3 degree, respectively.
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