People in Kashmir, Drass, Leh experience cold nights, but warm days

Srinagar, Dec 31 (UNI) People in the Kashmir valley, Leh, Kargil and Drass continue to shiver with bitting cold during nights but enjoy during the day because of above normal temperature.

The minimum temperature in the valley was minus 7.2 degree Celsius, coldest night of the winter so far. Yesterday, it was minus 7.1 degree during the night, a weather office spokesman said.

The major parts of the world famous Dal Lake freezed and water tapes in several localities were damaged. However, frozen water and water tapes started melting as the day progressed.

It was the coldest night after the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 7.2 degrees celsius, 5.2 degrees below normal.

The lowest temperature of minus 12.8 degrees Celsius was recorded on December 13, 1964 when water in the Dal lake was totally frozen.

However, the day was a bit warmer after the maximum temperature was recorded at 12 degree celsius, five degree above normal.

He said there is a gap of ten degree between minimum and maximum temperature in the valley.

Interestingly, night temperature at tourist spot Pahalgam was minus 6.8 degree, about a degree warmer than Srinagar. Nights in Kupwara, Baramulla, Banihal, Katra, Doda, Kishtwar and Jammu were few degree warmer than Srinagar.

However, people in Leh, Kargil and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, continued to shiver after the temperature dipped to minus 15 degrees C to minus 20 degrees.

It was the coldest night so far during the '' Chalai Kalan'' 40-day-long coldest period of the winter, which started from December 21.

The spokesman said the entire region is not receiving any Western Disturbances (WD) from Arabian sea which were entering the state through Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The sky remained clear, further intensifying cold during the night, he said adding the WD entered the region when the higher reaches in the valley experienced snowfall and plains had light rains early this month.

Official sources said bitting cold, coupled with frequent and unscheduled power failure and rise in the prices of woolen and other warm cloths and coal, has affected normal life in the valley.

People at several places in the Kashmir valley took to streets in protest against unscheduled power cuts as power generation in the local hydel projects has dropped after considerable fall in the water level in rivers because of almost dry weather for the past three months. The state government is importing power from different states, including Jharkhand to meet the power requirement.

The people at several places complained of water shortage.

They said prices of woolen and other warm cloths and coal has also increased many fold. Similarly, fire-wood which was being sold at Rs 120 to Rs 150 per quintal in November is being sold at Rs 300 per quintal.

UNI