News Analysis India

Tag: Srinagar snowfall

  • Srinagar records coldest night in 30 years, parts of Dal Lake freeze

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: Kashmir is in the grip of intense cold and Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the coldest night of the last 30 years.

    Deputy Director MeT Kashmir Mukhtar Ahmad said the night temperature in Srinagar dropped to minus 8.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

    It was the coldest night in Srinagar in the last 30 years.

    Earlier, in 1991, the night temperature in Srinagar had dropped to minus 11.8 degrees Celsius.

    In 1995, the night temperature in Srinagar had dropped to minus 8.3 degrees Celsius.

    The lowest temperature ever recorded in Srinagar is minus 14.4 degrees Celsius. It was recorded in 1893.

    With the mercury dropping many degrees below freezing point, the water bodies including portions of the famed Dal Lake in Srinagar froze.

    The shikarawala faced tough times in rowing their boats in the frozen Dal. They had to break the ice to make way for their boats.

    Some people were also seen walking over the frozen portion of Dal Lake and some kids were seen playing cricket.

    People in some areas burnt the wood to unfreeze the frozen water pipes.

    Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary advised people not to walk on frozen Dal Lake.

    “Walking on frozen Dal Lake could be dangerous. Please avoid it.  SDRF teams deployed for safety (sic),” Shahid tweeted.

    Kashmir is currently experiencing a 40-day winter period known as ‘Chilai Kalan’ which commences on December 21 and ends on January 31. There are maximum chances of snowfall during this time.

  • Jammu & Kashmir houseboats opens up for stranded tourists 

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: In view of the continued closure of Valley’s surface and air link with rest of the country, the houseboats and hotels have opened their properties for the stranded passengers. They are offering 50 per cent rebate to the tourists, who were to leave the Valley in last four days, but got stuck due to the closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway and the suspension of air traffic at Srinagar airport.

    Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association President Abdul Hamid Wangnoo told this newspaper that the houseboat owners have opened up their houseboats for the tourists stranded due to suspension of Valley’s surface and air link with the rest of the country.

    Due to heavy snowfall since Sunday, Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only link road connecting Kashmir with rest of the country, remained closed for fourth consecutive day today while the flights at Srinagar airport also remained suspended since Sunday. The tourists had thronged the Valley to celebrate the new year at the famous ski resort of Gulmarg.

    “We have provided our helpline Nos and made some of our houseboats at Nageen and Dal Lake available to stranded tourists free of cost,” Wagnoo said. He said the tourists who had already booked the houseboats, but were supposed to check out in last four days have been told to continue their stay in the houseboats.“We will be giving them upto 50 per cent rebate. And in case, somebody does not have money to pay the bill, he/she does not need to worry,” Wagnoo said.