Srinagar: The mercury dropped in most parts of Kashmir Valley as the world famous ski-resort Gulmarg was coldest at minus 10.0 Degree Celsius.
According a meteorological department official here, Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recorded a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, down from previous night’s minus 2.0 degree Celsius.
The night temperature in Pahalgam also dropped from minus 4.9 Degrees Celsius on previous night to settle at minus 5.0 degree Celsius on last night, he said.
Kokernag in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 1.4 degree Celsius against minus 3.2 degrees Celsius on last night.
The MeT official said that the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 10.0 degrees Celsius last night as against minus 9.0 degrees Celsius on the previous night.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 3.0 degree Celsius last night, up from the previous night’s 4.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.
The night temperature in Leh and Kargil dipped to minus 9.9 degrees Celsius and minus 15.3 degrees, respectively.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).