Night in Leh, Kargil, Drass cold, temperature up in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 10: Night in Leh, Kargil and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, remained cold as the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 5 degrees Celsius.

However, the minimum and maximum in the Kashmir valley was above normal, resulting in early melting of snow on the mountain peaks. Meanwhile, the 24-hour forecast for strong winds alongwith rain passed off peacefully in the valley. Official sources said though the day temperature in Leh, Kargil and Drass was near normal, the night remained cold.

People in these areas still are using different modern and traditional methods to keep themselves warm. The day-night temperature in the Kashmir valley was several degrees above normal.

People, however, are concerned about the early melting of snow on the higher peaks due to above normal minimum and maximum temperature in the valley. Due to this snow on the higher reaches will not last long and people will face water shortage during summer months, experts said.

But early melting of snow had increased water level in river Jhelum and its tributaries. It will help increase in the power generation in local power houses, they said.

Meanwhile, Kashmir valley remained normal and weather was dry though there was a forecast from Regional Meteorological Department, Delhi, about possibility of strong wind blowing in the next 24 hours alongwith rain.

The valley and parts of Jammu region recorded heaviest snowfall in 20 years in the second week of last month, resulting in closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway for more than a week.

The Divisional Disaster Management Cell headed by Amir Ali of Kashmir had requested concerned agencies to be in a state of readiness to meet any eventuality. Senior police officers were requested not to allow Shikaras to ply in Dal lake last night as a precautionary measure.

The Chief Engineer, Electric department, Kashmir, was requested to ensure that power is switched off immediately in case of toppling over of electrical poles, so as to ensure that there is no danger to life.

UNI