- विज्ञापन -
Srinagar: The minimum temperature in Kashmir remained several degrees below freezing on Monday, with the weak winter sun attempting to break through a thin layer of clouds in Jammu.
The Valley experienced overcast skies, with only a trickle of sunlight reaching the Jammu division through the cloud cover.
Cold wave conditions persisted in the Valley, and the Meteorological (MeT) office predicted continued cold, dry weather until December 21, with light snowfall expected in higher altitudes from the evening of December 21 to the morning of December 22.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.4°C, while Gulmarg and Pahalgam reported minus 4°C and minus 5°C, respectively. In Jammu city, the minimum temperature was 5°C, with Katra at 6.9°C, Batote at 4.5°C, Banihal at 1°C, and Bhaderwah at 3.9°C.
The extreme morning chill keeps residents indoors during the early hours, prompting them to hurry home in the evenings to escape the biting cold.
The harsh winter period known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan’ will begin on December 21 and last until January 30. During this time, the difference between maximum and minimum temperatures decreases, intensifying the cold.
To prepare for the long winter months, Kashmiris dry vegetables such as brinjal, tomatoes, and pumpkins in the autumn.
Due to financial constraints, the Jammu and Kashmir government struggles to procure enough electricity from external sources, leading locals to rely on traditional methods to combat the severe winter cold.
One such method is wearing a loose tweed overgarment called the ‘Pheran,’ under which locals keep a traditional earthen firepot known as the ‘Kangri.’ This wicker-basket firepot, filled with embers, has proven to be an effective heating solution for the residents of the cold Kashmir Valley.
