SRINAGAR, Jan 27: Kashmir was gripped by an intense cold wave on
Monday, with the minimum temperature plummeting several notches below
freezing, while pleasant weather continued in Jammu division.
According to the Meteorological (MeT) department, Srinagar recorded a
minimum temperature of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg saw minus
5.2, and Pahalgam recorded minus 6.4 degrees.
In contrast, Jammu city experienced mild weather with a minimum
temperature of 5.8 degrees Celsius. Other areas in the Jammu division
included Katra at 8.2, Batote at 4.7, Banihal at 1.5, and Bhaderwah at
1.4.
In Srinagar and other towns of the Valley, water pipes froze again,
and locals were seen lighting small fires around them to defrost the
pipes. The extreme cold led to fewer people venturing outside early in
the morning, preferring to stay indoors to avoid the chill.
Transport was scarce during the early hours, but roads began to bustle
as the sun rose.
The MeT department has forecasted generally cloudy weather with light
rain from the evening of January 28 until January 31.
The 40-day-long period of intense winter cold, known as ‘Chillai
Kalan,’ began on December 21 and will end on January 30. Weather in
the Valley is expected to gradually improve starting February 1,
although snowfall typically continues until early March, even in the
plains.
In Jammu, the weather has already improved, with Sunday’s maximum
temperature reaching 21.8 degrees Celsius. People have started to pack
away their winter clothes, and the early signs of summer dresses are
emerging. The Rabi crop is flourishing, with wheat fields turning lush
green, promising a bountiful harvest for farmers in the Jammu
division.
Doctors have urged caution, especially for children and the elderly,
advising them to avoid prolonged exposure to extreme cold. Such
exposure can cause blood vessels to constrict, leading to myocardial
infarction, which increases the risk of heart attacks and heart
failure.
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