With Kashmir Valley recording sub-zero temperatures, many parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh witnessed sharp overnight cooling on Wednesday, making the season’s intense cold weather unbearable even for the local population. Several stations in the and Zojila Pass plunging to minus 18°C, according to data.
In the Kashmir region, Gulmarg remained the coldest inhabited location at minus 5.5°C, while Kupwara and Shopian recorded minus 4.2°C and minus 4.3°C respectively.Baramulla touched minus 4.5°C and Zethan Rafiabad dipped to minus 4.8°C. Pahalgam and Srinagar Airport both settled at minus 3.6°C, followed by Budgam at minus 3.0°C and Pampore at minus 2.5°C.
Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a minimum of minus 1.9°C. Qazigund and Kokernag stood at minus 1.6°C and minus 1.8°C respectively.Bandipora and Anantnag registered minus 2.6°C each, while Pulwama recorded minus 3.7°C. Kulgam (minus 0.6°C), Ganderbal (minus 0.9°C) and Sonamarg (minus 1.6°C) also remained below freezing.
A sharp drop was also recorded along the higher reaches, with Zojila Pass witnessing one of the coldest readings of the season at minus 18°C.
In the Jammu region, temperatures stayed above freezing but dipped compared to previous days. For the last couple of days people have started feeling intensity of cold during evenings and early mornings, which fades away to a great extent with bright sunshine during the day.
Jammu city recorded 8.4°C, while Katra stood at 9.5°C. Udhampur recorded 4.8°C and Rajouri 2.0°C. Bhaderwah was the coldest in the region at 0.8°C, while Samba settled at 3.3°C.Banihal (5.4°C), Batote (6.5°C), Ramban (5.6°C), Doda (6.5°C), Kathua (7.4°C), Reasi (6.4°C) and Kishtwar (6.0°C) also recorded a dip.
Ladakh region continues to experience harshest weather with Leh having reported a minimum of minus 5.5°C, while Kargil recorded minus 5.1°C. Nubra Valley stood at minus 2.5°C.The persistent cold has set in even as the Meteorological Department has forecast mainly dry weather over the next few days.
While this season of the year has always remained welcome for many tourists every year who wish to enjoy beauty of Kashmir with snow all around, the influx has been hit during the past one week due to disruptions in Indigo airline.
Just when Kashmir’s tourism industry was beginning to sense a long-awaited winter rebound, domestic airfares have once again skyrocketed. While cancellations spoilt the trip of tourists with scheduled flights, there are many who continue to report ticket prices that are far beyond the notified ceilings, raising serious questions about enforcement by the authorties. For days now, passengers booking flights to and from Srinagar have been confronted with fares that are unaffordable, as a result of which the hoteliers are also facing loss due to cancellations.
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