Water bodies freeze in Valley

Srinagar, January 15

Kashmir reeled under intense cold wave conditions on Friday as mercury stayed several degrees below the freezing point, resulting in freezing of several water bodies, including Dal Lake.

Srinagar recorded a low of -7.6°C, which is around five degrees below normal for this time of the year, Met Department officials said. The city had recorded a low of -8.4°C on Thursday, which has been the lowest temperature in Srinagar since 1991.

Srinagar had recorded -8.3°C in 1995. The temperature has fallen to -11.3°C in 1991. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Srinagar was -14.4°C in 1893.

The rest of the Valley was also reeling under intense cold.

Pahalgam tourist resort, which also serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir, recorded a low of -8.6°C — up from the previous night’s -1.1°C.

The minimum temperature in Gulmarg tourist resort settled at -5.5°C — up from -7°C the night earlier.

Qazigund — the gateway town to the Valley — recorded a minimum of 8.3°C.

Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of -5.7°C, while Kokernag recorded -8.4°C.

The surface of Dal Lake has frozen due to the bone-chilling cold, prompting the authorities to issue an advisory against walking on the ice. SDRF staff and the river police are conducting patrols around the frozen water bodies to ensure safety of the people. A dense fog also engulfed many parts of the city this morning.

The plunge in the minimum temperature has resulted in freezing of water supply pipes. A thick layer of ice has frozen over several roads in the city and elsewhere in the Valley, making it difficult for motorists to drive. — PTI