Minus 15 degree in Drass, people using spring water, Kashmir cold

Srinagar, Dec 18 (UNI) The Kashmir valley and Ladakh region are under the grip of a severe cold wave, with temperatures dipping several degrees below normal.

Official sources said more chilly days are ahead as western disturbances, moving over northern Pakistan, are fast approaching Jammu and Kashmir, which could result in further snowfall and further drop in the temperature.

A weather office spokesman told UNI that nights in the valley are cold because of icy cold winds sweeping the entire belt.

The minimum temperature in the state capital here was recorded at minus 3.4 degrees celsius, which was 2.4 degree below normal, he said, adding the coming days would be more colder. Several taps were frozen due to minus temperature. However, the frozen water melted as the day progressed.

The temperature in Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, dipped to minus 15 degree while it was minus 11 degree in Kargil in the Ladakh region.

The authorities have already stopped supply of water through taps in Kargil and Drass for the past one month, as taps were getting frozen due to minus temperature during winter months.

They said water in Kargil was being supplied through tankers to residents.

However, at Drass, people were using the water of five not springs which is fit for human consumption, they said.

Meanwhile, the body of a teacher, who was buried alive under a snow avalanche at Zero point on the Srinagar-Leh highway on November 25, could not be recovered. Authorities feel that the body might be recovered in April, when the snow starts melting.

About a dozen vehicles are still stranded at different points on the highway between Zojila and Gumri. The vehicles got stranded after heavy snowfall in the area on November 15, when the highway was officially closed for six winter months.

UNI BAS PA VV1518