SRINAGAR: Cold wave tightened its grip on Kashmir Valley ahead of the onset of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period, with the summer capital Srinagar and Leh town recording the coldest night of the season.
Chillai-Kalan, considered the harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum, will begin tomorrow.
The weather usually remains cold during this period with the mercury remaining several degrees below freezing point, which often leads to freezing of water supply lines as well as water bodies, including the famous Dal Lake.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius last night, down over a degree from the previous night’s minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, an official of the MET department here said.
He said this is the lowest night temperature the city has experienced so far this winter.
The official said the sub-zero temperatures have resulted in freezing of water supply lines in many areas of the Valley, while fringes of several water bodies were also frozen.
Leh, in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, also recorded the coldest night of the season as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 14 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night’s minus 13.8 degrees Celsius.
