Ladakh region frozen, biting cold in Kashmir Valley

Leh and Kargil towns in the Ladakh region remained frozen at minus 12 degrees Celsius on Monday while the biting cold continued in Kashmir Valley.

"The minimum temperature was recorded at minus 12.2 degrees Celsius in Leh while it was minus 12.1 degrees Celsius in Kargil town of Ladakh region on Monday," an official from the local Met office told IANS.

"These two towns were the coldest in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday," the official said.

"The minimum temperature in Srinagar city was two degrees Celsius on Monday. It was minus 4.1 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam and minus 10 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg."

"The minimum temperature was recorded at 6.8 degrees Celsius in Jammu city and Katra town, 0.6 degrees Celsius in Batote, 0.3 degrees Celsius in Bannihal and minus one degrees Celsius in Bhaderwah town," the official said.

The official said rain or snow is likely to occur during the next 24 hours at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir.

Biting cold has been causing problems to the people of the valley.

Although the 40-day long period of extreme cold known as 'Chillai Kalan' is still a week away. Beginning on December 21, Chillai Kalan ends on January 31 each year.

During this period all the water bodies of Kashmir Valley including lakes, rivers and streams freeze while the roads become extremely slippery in the morning and the evenings.

The good thing about Chillai Kalan is that the snowfall replenishes the perennial reservoirs that feed the rivers, streams and lakes in Kashmir during the months of summer.