Cold conditions intensified across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, with minimum temperatures slipping below the freezing point in hill stations Gulmarg and Pahalgam, even as Srinagar recorded a slight rise in night temperatures.
According to the Meteorological Department(MeT), Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. In contrast, Gulmarg recorded minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam saw the mercury dip to minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 8.2 degrees Celsius, Katra 9.4 degrees, Batote 4.2 degrees, Banihal 6.4 degrees and Bhaderwah 0.6 degrees Celsius.
The MeT department has forecast dry weather across the Union Territory till December 31, noting that clear night skies could lead to a further drop in minimum temperatures.
The 40-day harsh winter period known as ‘Chillai Kalan’ began on December 21, marked by snowfall in higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley and rainfall in the plains. This weather activity ended a prolonged three-month dry spell in the region.
The recent rain and snowfall have brought relief to residents and raised expectations within the tourism sector. Hoteliers, tour operators and local businesses are hopeful of an increase in tourist arrivals during the Christmas and New Year period, particularly in Gulmarg and other hill stations.
The snowfall has also renewed prospects for skiing activities in Gulmarg, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s premier skiing destinations.
Meanwhile, migratory birds that winter in the Valley have begun moving from bird reserves into open fields and wetlands following the recent precipitation, offering a familiar seasonal sight across the region.
with inputs from IANS
