Srinagar, Dec 21 :
Mercury plummeted to -8.5°C in Srinagar, the season’s coldest night and lowest ever December night recorded in at least more than two decades, as Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter, started on Saturday.
A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a drop in temperature by 2.3°C than last night’s 6.2°C which was the previous lowest this season. Kashmir Valley witnesses one of the worst winters.
As per records since the start of the present century, the official said, the previous lowest in 24 years was recorded on 28 December 2018 when mercury plunged to -7.7°C. The lowest ever temperature was endured on 13 December 1934 when mercury plummeted to -12.8°C, he told Global News Service. Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 8.2°C against minus 7.6°C on the previous night, he said. Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 8.6°C against minus 8.2°C on the previous night.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 5.8°C against minus 5.8°C on the previous night
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 7.2°C against minus 6.5°C on the previous night, the official said.
Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 6.2°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night.
Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 5.4°C, he added.
Kashmir valley is under ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter, which will end on January 29. However it does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1. (GNS)