Srinagar: Srinagar experienced the coldest night of the season so far on Saturday as Kashmir continued to reel under freezing night temperatures, the Meteorological department said.
The Valley is bracing up for the 40-day harshest winter period, ‘Chillai-Kalan’, from Monday when the chances of snowfall are frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night’s minus 6.0 degrees Celsius, the weather officials said.
Water taps in Srinagar city and other towns of the Kashmir division were frozen on Saturday morning and locals were seen lighting small fires around to de-freeze them.
Slippery road conditions at certain places also prevented people from venturing out in the morning as the biting chill lashed the Kashmir Valley.
The mercury in Pahalgam in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 9.5 degrees Celsius, the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir. The minimum temperature in Gulmarg was minus 9.2 degrees Celsius, up from minus 10.6 degrees previous night, the officials said.
Qazigund – the gateway town to the Valley – recorded a minimum of minus 5.9 degrees Celsius, Kupwara registered a low of minus 6.0 degrees and Kokernag minus 6.0 degrees Celsius, according to the officials.
The Met department said while no major snowfall was expected till the end of the month, there was a possibility of light to moderate snowfall on Monday and Tuesday at isolated places of Kashmir.
Meanwhile, in Jammu division, Jammu city recorded 3.3, Katra 4.9, Batote 2.5, Bannihal 3.2 and Bhaderwah minus 3.0 degree Celsius as the minimum temperatures.
Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh recorded minus 29 degree Celsius as the minimum temperature, officials said.
