Icy winds affect life in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 11: Icy winds, resulting in considerable drop in the temperature and intermittent power failure affected normal life in the Kashmir valley today.

''We expect rain or snowfall in the region tomorrow as Western Disturbances (WD) had entered the region from Pakistan and Afghanistan'', Director Meteorological department T K Jyotshi told UNI.

He said a WD from Arabian sea had entered the region and will remain active till November 14.

Mr Jyotishi said though entire region will be affected, the upper reaches in the West, including Kupwara, Gulmarg, Keran and Karnah are expected to experience moderate to heavy snowfall during the next three days, which could result in chilly conditions in the plains.

He said the plains could have rain or snowfall during the period.

The night temperature recorded at 2 degrees Celsius, normal for this period of the season, he said adding the day temperature was relatively low today.

He said during the past one week, the minimum temperature was four to five degrees above normal. But due to WD, the temperature during the first half of the day was below normal, which forced people to wear warm and woolen cloths.

Besides scheduled power cuts in the Kashmir valley, intermittent power failure forced people to take to streets in many parts against the Power Development Department (PDD).

People alleged that despite directions from the Governor to PDD to improve the power supply to consumers in the valley, frequent and untimely power failure has become a daily routine.

Leh recently recorded the coldest night when the temperature dipped to minus seven degrees.

Meanwhile, Khardongla and other areas in Leh experienced snowfall during the past 24 hours.

However, weather in Leh town, Kargil and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, remained dry.

UNI