Srinagar sees coldest night in 16 years
SRINAGAR — The night temperature in Srinagar yesterday touched the lowest in 16 years at 7.8 degrees Celsius below the freezing point as intense cold gripped the valley, officials said. Authorities are on alert as more snow is expected over the next two days.
Following its forecast of moderate to heavy snowfall in the valley in the next two days, the local weather office issued an advisory for the rough weather ahead.
The present western disturbances over the state are likely to intensify and will affect Jammu and Kashmir and its adjoining areas till January 16, it said.
“Due to this weather system, moderate to heavy rain (in plains)/ snowfall will occur at most places of Pir Panchal ranges in Kashmir division and at a few places over higher reaches of Jammu and Ladakh region. Some places of Pir Panchal range would receive heavy snowfall (35 cms and above) on January 15 (today),” the weather office said.
“This system is likely to disrupt surface and air transport systems of the state.” “During the above period, the day temperatures will fall by 2-3 district headquarters of the valley to degrees and the night temperature maintain road connectivity between will rise by 1 to 2 degrees,” said the and within districts in view of the advisory issued by Sonam Lotus, expected moderate to heavy snowdirector of the local Meteorological fall here. office. Srinagar recorded minus 7.8 Life was thrown out of gear degrees as the minimum temperaacross the valley earlier this month ture yesterday — the lowest since due to a heavy snowfall in the Pir 1995, when the city had recorded a Panchal mountain range that dislow of minus 8.2 degrees. rupted the electric power supply for
“The lowest ever in Srinagar four days, affecting most of Srinahas been minus 14.2 degrees that gar city’s drinking water facilities. was recorded on January 31, 1893,” The Srinagar-jammu national Lotus said. The maximum temperahighway was reopened to traffic ture was 0.7 degree Celsius, which yesterday and over a thousand veraised the day temperature above hicles moved towards their destinathe freezing point for the first time tions on the road. in seven days. According to eye-witnesses,
Kargil town in Ladakh region Brigadier T P S Rawat, chief engirecorded minus 17.2 degrees while neer of the Border Roads OrganisaLeh town recorded minus 13.6 detion (BRO), was personally supergrees as the day’s minimum tempervising the passage of the traffic at ature, said another weather official. Shaitani Nallah at 1.30 am yester
The state government has put on day. high alert all its departments associ“The temperature was around ated with maintenance of essential minus 18 degrees Celsius at Shaitasupplies like water supply, electricni Nallah during the night. Our boys ity and consumer affairs and public manning snow clearance machines distribution. worked round the clock to keep
Snow clearance machines have the highway open,” Rawat said. been deployed in Srinagar and other — IANS
— AFP