Kashmir on Sunday recorded the coldest night in 11 years, with the mercury dropping to -6.8 degrees as a cold wave swept across the valley.
According to Indian Meteorological Department officials, the coldest night before Sunday was December 31, 2007, when the mercury fell to -7.2 degrees.
The Kashmir valley is passing through the 40-day peak winter period “Chillai-e-Kalan” that began on December 21.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Srinagar recorded -4.4 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam -6.7 degrees and Gulmarg -5.5 degrees.
In Leh and Kargil, the temperatures dipped to -14.7 and -15.2 degrees, respectively.
Jammu city recorded 5.3 degrees Celsius, Katra 4.8, Batote -1.4, Bannihal -3 and Bhaderwah -2.1 degrees Celsius.
The sharp dip in temperatures, according to the official, is due to icy cold winds blowing from the snowy mountains. The temperature fell to -14.3 degrees Celsius in Drass in Kargil, the second-coldest place in the world after Siberia.
The officials said the frosty weather will continue for the next five days.
Due to the cold wave, most residents are staying indoors and making use of Kangris, the traditional heating tool comprising an earth pot around which wicker sticks are woven intricately in different designs. The pot contains burning charcoal that lasts for several hours.
Due to load-shedding that peaks in winters, the heaters and blowers run for shorter durations only.
Most schools and colleges in the state have been closed in Kashmir while the secretariat shifts to Jammu under the traditional Darbar Move.
