Srinagar, Dec 17 (UNI) The world famous Dal Lake was frozen on Thursday as the summer capital Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season so far at minus 6.4 degree while the mercury in the other parts of Kashmir valley also settled several degrees below normal due to open skies.
Water taps and other water bodies, including nallahs and drains, were also frozen in the city, where the Sun appeared this morning though ice cold winds continued, forcing people to remain indoors and start their day late.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that the weather will remain dry during the next about three days. “The dry weather would result in further dip in the night temperature though maximum temperature will remain above normal due to sunshine,” he said.
He said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching through Afghanistan and Pakistan, is expected to hit the region on December 20. “Under the influence of this WD, light to moderate snow could occur on December 20 and December 21,” he added.
The border town of Kargil in the Union Territory of Ladakh was the coldest place in the region at minus 16.4 degree, followed by Leh, where the mercury dipped about 4 degree from Wednesday and settled at minus 14.9 degree.
After witnessing the coldest night of the season so far at minus 6.4 degree, people woke up to a chilly Thursday morning in Srinagar, where Dal Lake and other water bodies were frozen, particularly in the interior areas. People near the banks could be seen throwing stones and paper on the frozen parts of the lake.
However, as the day progressed, the Sun came out resulting in de-freezing of these water bodies near the banks though the interior areas remained frozen. The lake was completely frozen first in 1965 when a jeep crossed over the frozen water from one end to another end. Later, it was also frozen in 80s, 90s and in 2018.
Shikarawalas early in the morning could be seen breaking ice to make way for their boats in Dal Lake. “As the water is frozen due to chilly conditions, we are breaking the ice to make way for our boats. The ice layer is thick in the interior areas, but it is relatively thin near the banks,” Shabir Ahmad, a Shikarawala, told UNI.
With the chill intensifying in the city, auto-drivers and transporters, besides mechanics were keeping themselves warm in the morning by burning wood on the road sides. The night temperature in the city was about 3 degree below normal.
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg was the coldest place in the region even as the mercury remained constant since Wednesday at minus 11 degree, which is about 7 degree below normal. Gulmarg, which is known for its ski slopes and quality of snow, was the only place in the valley where the maximum temperature settled below freezing point at minus 1.2 degree. “Despite chilly weather conditions, tourists from different parts of the country where out on ski slopes enjoying different snow related activities. The footfall of tourists have increased due to early snowfall,” a hotelier told UNI over the phone from Gulmarg.
The mercury at world famous health resort of Pahalgam dipped about a degree from Wednesday and settled at minus 8.9 degree, which is about 5 degree below normal. The health resort is covered under several feet of snow.
The night temperature in Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag settled at minus 4.9 degree, minus 5.8 degree and minus 4.8 degree, respectively.
