Water Bodies in Kashmir Freeze as Temperatures Drop Below Freezing Point

GG News Bureau
Srinagar, 2nd Jan. Water bodies in Kashmir have frozen and the minimum temperature remains below freezing point, according to the weather office.

The Dal Lake in Srinagar has a thin layer of ice due to a minimum temperature of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius. Residents living in houseboats on the lake had difficulty breaking the ice to reach the banks.

Water supply pipes have also frozen in many areas of Kashmir.

Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded temperatures of minus 6.2 and minus 4 degrees Celsius respectively.

The lack of precipitation has resulted in a prolonged dry spell in Kashmir, with December experiencing a 79% deficit in rainfall. The absence of snowfall in most areas has caused the minimum temperature to drop further.

Kashmir is currently in the midst of the 40-day harshest winter period known as ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, during which water bodies freeze and heavy snowfall occurs.

This period will end on January 31, but cold conditions will persist with ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ and ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ following.