The cold wave returned to the Kashmir Valley after a brief respite on Sunday, with minimum temperatures dropping sharply on Monday night, officials said on Tuesday.
According to the MeT office in Srinagar, “The summer capital recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.9 degrees Celsius on Monday night compared to minus 2.5 degrees Celsius recorded the night before.” The intense cold wave has led to the freezing of several water bodies in the Valley, with night temperatures dropping several degrees.
The dry and cold weather conditions have led to a surge in seasonal illnesses, particularly among young children and older people. Health officials have advised people to avoid stepping out of their homes during early morning hours, as the intense cold breeze could trigger several chest and respiratory diseases.
Also Read: Delhi, parts of north freeze at near-zero temperatures
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Srinagar recorded the season’s coldest night, with minimum temperatures plunging to minus 6.0 degrees Celsius, 4.2 degrees below the season’s normal. According to the MeT, the majority of weather stations in the Kashmir Valley, including those in the north, south, and central regions, have also witnessed cold wave conditions. The higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley continued to receive intermittent snowfall.
In the Jammu region, minimum temperatures remained above normal at most weather stations, including Jammu city, Katra, Reasi, Kathua, Udhampur, and Mata Vaishno Devi. Banihal district in Jammu remained the warmest place, with minimum temperatures at 8.9 degrees Celsius. South Kashmir’s Pulwama emerged as the coldest, with minus 6.6 degrees Celsius.
The Valley’s main tourist attractions, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam, are witnessing a massive rush of tourists following the recent snowfall. The Kashmir Valley is in the middle of the harshest winter period, Chillai-Kalan, a 40-day cold spell typically accompanied by major snowfall. However, the deficit in rain and snowfall in the plains has caused uncertainties among the farming community in the region.
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