Srinagar Freezes At -4.8 Degrees

Receives Fresh Snowfall…

Srinagar: On Monday night, the higher reaches of Kashmir including Pahalgam and Sonmarg received fresh snowfall.

Tourists at Pahalgam resort who had reached to celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve were seen enjoying the fresh snowfall.

The minimum temperature in Kashmir rose by a couple of degrees but still stayed below the freezing point offering little respite from cold conditions, officials said on Monday morning.

After snowfall on Monday night, the Valley freezes again. Pahalgam settled at minus 6.7 degree Celsius and Srinagar was freezing at minus 4.8.

The intense cold conditions in Kashmir have led to freezing of water supply lines in many areas as well as the freezing of the interiors of the Dal Lake, they said.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chilla-i-Kalan' which is the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops.

The chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period. Most areas, especially in the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall. 'Chilla-i-Kalan' begins on December 21 and ends on January 30. The cold wave continues even after that with a 20-day-long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day-long 'Chilla-i-Bachha' (baby cold) following it.