Kashmir Valley reels under intense cold wave, minimum temp likely to drop further

The Meteorological Department (also referred to as Met) on Sunday predicted that the minimum temperatures were likely to drop further in the next three or four days.

Jammu, the winter capital of state, recorded 9.8 degrees Celsius followed by Udhampur 6.5.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Met predicted that the minimum temp are likely to drop further in the next three or four days
• Srinagar recorded its coldest night with the minimum temp settling at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius
• With minus 10.9 degrees, Leh in Ladakh recorded the coldest in J&K
• Kashmir Valley is reeling under an intense cold wave with the minimum temperature remaining below the freezing point on Sunday (December 2). Temperatures dropped further on Monday (December 3). The Meteorological Department (also referred to as Met) on Sunday predicted that the minimum temperatures were likely to drop further in the next three or four days.

Srinagar recorded its coldest night of the season on Sunday with the minimum temperatures dipping slightly to settle at the season's lowest at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius. This was for the second day that the minimum temperature settled at minus degrees Celsius or below in the city

With minus 10.9 degrees, the Leh town in Ladakh region recorded the coldest in the state. The lowest temperature in Kargil was recorded at minus 8.2 degrees. The minimum temperature at other hilly areas were much lower.

While Gulmarg recorded a temperature of minus 6 degrees, Pahalgam, the famous health resort which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, was shivering at minus 5.8.

Jammu, the winter capital of state, recorded 9.8 degrees Celsius followed by Udhampur 6.5.

Water supply pipes and streams are also freezing in these regions resulting in the shortage of drinking water supplies.

With the continuous dip in the minimum temperature in various parts of the state, Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) president Nisar-ul Hassan warned that it can increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Cautioning people, Hassan said that cold temperatures compress the blood vessels that increase blood pressure increasing chances of a stroke or heart attack.

"The blood tends to be thicker and stickier during extreme cold which makes it easier for the clot to form," he said, adding that lack of sunlight during winters leaves people deficit in vitamin D which can also increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Meanwhile, the government has ordered closure of schools amid cold wave in the valley. The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) had submitted a proposal to the government which gave a nod for the announcement of winter vacations for government and private schools in view of the falling temperatures in Kashmir.

According to the officials, the schools for classes upto Class VIII will remain closed from December 6 to March 9, 2019. The schools for classes IX to XII will remain closed from December 17 to February 23, 2019.