Minimum temperatures across the Kashmir Valley plunged further on Wednesday as Srinagar recorded the season’s coldest night at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, officials said on Thursday.
The bone-chilling cold condition has led to the freezing of several water bodies, especially the famous Dal Lake.
According to the MeT in Srinagar, “The summer capital experienced the season’s coldest night, with the minimum settling at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night compared to minus 3.5 degrees Celsius recorded the night before.”
Officials said it was the coldest night in the city so far this season, with minimum temperatures were 3.2 degrees below the season’s normal.
Several weather stations in the Kashmir Valley, including north, south, and central regions, are experiencing cold wave conditions. Famous tourist spots such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonmarg received fresh snowfall.
Fresh snowfall over the higher reaches on Wednesday night has disrupted road traffic, forcing the closure of several critical highways connecting Jammu and Kashmir.
Amid the prevailing weather conditions, cases of seasonal illnesses among young and the elderly have increased across the Valley. Doctors have advised people to keep warm and avoid early morning travel where possible.
In the Jammu region, temperatures remained above the freezing point at most of the weather stations. Jammu city recorded the highest minimum temperature at 7.1 degrees Celsius, while Ganderbal district was the coldest, with minus 9.8 degrees Celsius.
The Valley’s main tourist destinations, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and Pahalgam, are witnessing a heavy rush of tourists following the recent snowfall.
Meanwhile, the Valley is in the middle of the harsh 40-day Chillai-Kalan period. During this time, Kashmir Valley usually receives heavy snowfall, which helps replenish agricultural land, particularly horticulture and saffron fields.
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