SRINAGAR: As a cold wave-like weather pattern descended upon the region on Saturday, officials reported that a thin layer of ice had formed on the surface of Dal Lake here and other bodies of water in Kashmir. On Friday night, the minimum temperature in a few areas of the valley fell below minus four degrees Celsius. The 40-day severe winter “Chilla-i-Kalan” that is currently affecting Kashmir causes temperatures to plummet, causing pipes and bodies of water to freeze. During this time, there is a greater chance of snowfall, and most places—especially the higher reaches—get a lot of snowfall. According to officials, the minimum temperature in Srinagar city on Friday night was minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, which was a decrease from the previous night’s reading of minus 3 degrees Celsius. It was reported that on Friday night, the minimum temperature at the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir was 4.5 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than the minimum recorded the night before in Qazigund, which recorded a low of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius was recorded in Pahalgam, in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir, which is one of the base camps for the yearly Amarnath Yatra. This is a decrease from the previous night’s minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, according to reports. In Kokernag town, the lowest recorded temperature was -2.9 degrees Celsius, while in Kupwara, it was -5.4 degrees Celsius. It was difficult for the occupants of the houseboats at Dal Lake to break through the layer of ice covering the lake to get to the banks. In the Kashmir valley, pipes’ water also froze in some areas. Due to the protracted dry spell that Kashmir has been experiencing, there was a 79% rainfall deficit in December. The majority of Kashmir’s plains have not seen any snowfall, while the upper valley has seen less snowfall than normal. Up until January 12, the meteorological department has mostly predicted dry weather. The last day of “Chilla-i-Kalan” is January 31. After that, though, there will be two more rounds of cold: a 10-day “Chilla-i-Bachha” (baby cold) and a 20-day “Chilla-i-Khurd” (small cold).
