Owais Gul
Srinagar, Jan 3: With no let up in the shivering cold across the Valley, a thin layer of ice has formed over world famous Dal Lake here as the mercury continued to settle below freezing point across Kashmir on Wednesday.
Several pipes supplying drinking water to the people froze amidst the chilly weather conditions in the ongoing 40-day harshest winter period Chillai-Kalan, which commenced on December 21 last year and will end on January 31.
It is followed by a 20-day long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) that occurs between January 31 and February 19 and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) which begins from February 20 to March 2.
Meanwhile, the Dal dwellers here had a tough time while breaking the ice sheet over the water body here while the people were also seen covering the pipes in different localities as severe cold conditions tightened its grip across the valley amidst the persistent dry spell.
The Dal dwellers were seen roving their boats this morning and simultaneously breaking the ice formed over the lake, to pave way to reach their destinations.
According to the data, Pahalgam in South Kashmir was the coldest at minus 6.2 degree Celsius followed by minus 5.3 degree Celsius in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir shivered at minus 4.8 degree Celsius while Qazigund in South Kashmir has recorded a low of minus 4.6 degree Celsius.
Gulmarg, a famous ski-resort, has recorded a low of minus 3.8 degree Celsius. Kokernag, however, recorded a low of minus 3.2 degree Celsius.
Pertinently, the weatherman here has predicted generally cloudy with dry weather over plains with possibility of very light snow over isolated extreme higher reaches in the next two days.
Furthermore, Director Meteorological department, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that mainly dry weather is expected from January 06 till 7th evening, adding that on 8th January, generally cloudy weather is expected over plains with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches.
On January 9-10, the weather conditions would remain generally dry.
However, a low visibility led to the hardships of commuters in Jammu today while the weatherman here has stated that moderate to dense fog with cold day conditions would likely to continue over plains of Jammu during next two days.
