Dal Lake freezes as Srinagar records coldest temperature since 1991

Dal Lake froze as Srinagar recorded a low temperature of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius.

Dal-Lake Kashmir Srinagar

Famous tourist spot Dal Lake in Kashmir on Thursday froze as the valley continued to be hit by severe cold waves recording the coldest temperature in 30 years. 

Srinagar registered a low temperature of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, since 1991 when the mercury dipped to minus 11.8 degree Celsius, officials in the weather department said. 

A minimum temperature of minus 11.3 degree Celsius was recorded in 1995. 

The lowest registered minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 14.4 degrees Celsius in 1893, said the weather department.

Pahalgam, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 11.1 degree Celsius - up from the previous night's minus 11.7 degree Celsius. While in Gulmarg, the temperature sank at minus 7 degree Celsius. 

Qazigund - the gateway town to the valley - recorded a minimum of 10 degree Celsius and Kupwara -  in north Kashmir saw temperatures as low as 6.7 degree Celsius and 10.3 degree Celsius in  Kokernag. 

Also Read: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry alerted of heavy rainfall for next 3 days: IMD

The fall in the minimum temperature has caused the freezing of water supply pipes, while several roads in the city are covered with thick layers of ice. 

Presently, Kashmir is under the grasp of "Chillai-Kalan" - the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave embraces the region and the temperature drops so low that it leads to the freezing of water bodies. 



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