Srinagar sees coldest night in 25 yrs
SRINAGAR : There was no let-up in the intense cold in Jammu and Kashmir, as Srinagar shivered at minus 8.4° Celsius, which was the coldest temperature recorded in the city in 25 years, an official of the Met department said.
For many in Kashmir, it is reminiscent of past years. “I saw big icicles hanging around house roofs in Srinagar after a long time. Chilai Kalan, this year, is showing its full might. Clearly reminiscent of the childhood days when such scenes would be a routine every winter,” a local resident Mir Faheem posted on social media.A major portion of Dal Lake and several other water bodies froze as the cold wave continued in the Valley on Thursday.
However, many youths were seen walking or playing on the frozen Dal Lake forcing the authorities to depute SDRF teams around the water body.
Srinagar deputy commissioner Shahid Choudhary said that people should desist from walking on frozen Dal Lake as it could be dangerous. “People should avoid it and SDRF teams have been deployed for the safety of people.”
Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu also warned people not to walk on the frozen Dal lake. “Alarmed by images and videos of people, especially children venturing out on the frozen Dal Lake. It is a very thin sheet of ice and can be extremely dangerous,” Mattu tweeted.
Meteorologist Sonum Lotus said that Srinagar recorded minus 8.4° Celsius, which was the coldest temperature recorded in the city in 25 years. “The same minimum temperature was recorded in 1995,” he said.On Wednesday night, Srinagar recorded the coldest night of winter with minus 7.8° Celsius. “Last time, the same temperature was recorded on January 14, 2012. This time it was recorded in the mid of harsh winter also known as Chilai Kalan,” said Sonum.
Srinagar-Jammu NH closure creates shortage of essentials
SRINAGAR : The SrinagarJammu national highway, remained shut for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday leaving both locals and traders fuming as they continue to face a shortage of essential goods.
The highway has been shut after a portion of the highway sank near Kela Morh in Ramban district after a concrete retaining wall of a bridge collapsed on Sunday evening. This came immediately after the highway had remained closed for traffic for almost a week following heavy snowfall from January 3 and 8. Many essential stocks in Kashmir particularly in Srinagar have become scarce pusing the prices of vegetables and fruits up due to the closure of the highway.