Occupied Kashmir Valley gripped by intensifying cold
Srinagar: The intensity of cold has increased across the Kashmir Valley in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with night temperatures continuing to drop, remaining below the freezing point in most parts of the territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, “Night temperatures have fallen below the freezing point at most places across the Valley,” an official of the Meteorological Department (MeT) said.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.1 degrees Celsius last night. The city’s airport was colder, logging minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.
Dense fog has also enveloped Srinagar and several other parts of the Valley, disrupting daily routines and reducing visibility.
Elsewhere in the Kashmir Valley, Baramulla recorded minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, while Shopian settled at minus 3.5 degrees Celsius each. Kupwara, Islamabad, and Bandipora recorded minimum temperatures close to minus 3 degrees Celsius.
Tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir registered a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, while the famous tourist resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir remained relatively warmer at 1 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, the harshest phase of winter, locally known as “Chillai Kalan,” will begin in the Kashmir Valley from December 21 and continue until January 30. This 40-day period is marked by the coldest temperatures of the season, with a high likelihood of snowfall and a sharp decline in temperatures across the Valley.
