Dal Lake other water bodies freeze

Summer capital Srinagar recordded coldest night of the winter after the minimum temperature dropped to minus 5.5 degree Celsius this morning while fresh snowfall resulted in freezing of parts of the world famous Dal lake, other water bodies and water taps.

However, world famous ski resort of Gulmarg was coldest in the Kashmir valley after the minimum temperature dropped to minus 16.5 degree.

Srinagar, recorded the coldest night of the season after the minimum temperature dropped to minus 5.5 degree, breaking the previous record of minus 4.9 degree on January 1.

This was more than four notches below than yesterday’s minus 1.0.

Major parts of the world famous Dal Lake were frozen, attracting large number of people, including tourists who were seen taking photographs.

The entire Dal was frozen in 60’s when a jeep crossed from one end to another end on it.

However, in 1986, the lake water was again frozen on which youths played cricket and ice hockey. Besides, tourists took photographs in the middle of the lake.

Official sources said several other water bodies were also frozen due to cold.

People in many areas complained about water shortage as the water taps were also frozen. Due to non-availability of electricity, water could not be lifted to filtration plants and water tanks.

Roof tops, tree tops and electric polls were covered with snow.

A number of people were injured after falling on slippery roads in the city.

Famed ski resort of Gulmarg, which experienced more than five feet of snowfall, also recorded coldest night of the season when the minimum temperature dropped to minus 16.5 degree this morning. Earlier, the highest was minus 12.0 degree recorded on December 23.

However, hundreds of tourists from different parts of the country and abroad were enjoying the snow despite severe cold.

Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir valley on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which remained closed for the past three days, also recorded coldest minimum temperature of the winter sofar after the temperature dropped to minus 8.4 degree breaking the previous minus 5.6 recorded on December 26.

Kokernag in south Kashmir and Kupwara in north Kashmir also recorded coldest night after the minimum dropped to minus 6.3 and minus 5.6 degree respectively.

However, famed health resort of Pahalgam, base camp of holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas recorded minus 6.0 degree against yesterday’s minus 4.0 degree.

However, the coldest in the tourist resort during this winter was minus 8.8 degree recorded on December 25, last year.

A Met department spokesman said details about temperature in Leh and Kargil of Ladakh region was not available.