Intense cold abates in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The residents of Ladakh region experienced relief from intense cold conditions as the mercury rose by around seven degrees there, even as the MeT department said a fresh western disturbance would affect Jammu and Kashmir today.

"A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the state today," a spokesman of the MeT Department here said.

He said the weather would remain dry and cold in Ladakh region, while there was possibility of rain or snow at isolated places in Kashmir Valley.

Kargil, in the frontier Ladakh region, was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir. The mercury there increased by seven degrees as the minimum temperature settled at minus 10.0 degrees Celsius compared to minus 17.0 degrees Celsius the previous night, the spokesman said.

He said Leh, also in Ladakh, recorded a low of minus 8.0 degrees Celsius, up by nearly seven degrees from minus 14.4 degrees Celsius yesterday.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the minimum temperature of 1.6 degree Celsius compared to the previous night's minus 0.8 degree Celsius, he said.

He said the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, the star attraction for tourists especially skiers from across the country and abroad, recorded a low of minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, as against minus 8.4 degrees Celsius the previous night.

The famous south Kashmir hill resort of Pahalgam, which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, registered the minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, over four degrees up from the previous night's minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

He said Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley in south, recorded a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius against minus 1.7 degrees Celsius yesterday.

The spokesman said Kupwara, in north Kashmir, registered a minimum of zero degrees Celsius, while Kokernag, in south, recorded a low of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir Valley is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' - the 40-day harshest winter period - which began on December 21. The chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent during this period. However, this year the weather had remained mostly dry with occasional snowfall or rains mostly in higher reaches.

Though 'Chillai-Kalan' would end on January 31, the winter continues after that. The 40-day period would be followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).