Kashmir gets respite from intense cold

Srinagar, Jan 19 (PTI) Residents of Kashmir got a respite from intense cold wave conditions on Thursday as minimum temperatures rose by a few notches but still settled below the freezing point across the region following light overnight snowfall, officials said.

Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night up from minus 4.3 degrees Celsius the night before, they said.

Qazigund, the gateway to the Valley, registered a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, up from minus 7.4 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius, while the minimum in Kupwara settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

The mercury jumped more than seven degrees in Pahalgam, in Anantnag district, which also serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra. The minimum temperature recorded in the south Kashmir resort was minus 4.3 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district saw an upward movement of four degrees to settle at minus 7.6 degrees Celsius.

The meteorological office had forecast wet weather in Jammu and Kashmir due to western disturbances from January 19 to 25.

The weather will remain cloudy from January 19-21 with chances of light rain or snow over isolated to scattered places, mainly over higher reaches.

However, it said a much higher intensity precipitation will occur from the night of January 22 till the forenoon of January 24, and there is a possibility of widespread moderate snow in the plains of Kashmir (with rains in Jammu) and moderate to heavy snow over middle and higher reaches.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day harshest weather period when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent. Chillai Kalan begins on December 21 and ends on January 30. The cold wave continues even after that with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai Bachha’ following it.