Category: Environment

Environment

Current Snow spells infuse life into Jhelum

Editor

Water level in the river had dropped to record low in December The water level in the Jhelum, which had dropped to an unprecedented low, is back to normal following heavy snow spells in the past one month. The river is flowing two or three feet above the zero point for the past fortnight after registering a record low water level in December. On Friday, the water level in the river at Sangam in south Kashmir was recorded at two feet, officials of the Flood and Irrigation Department said. The…

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Kashmir Valley sees widest whiteout in 25 Years

Editor

With three spells of heavy snowfall of over 16.2cm in January alone, Kashmir Valley turned picture postcard beautiful receiving the thickest whiteout in 25 years. Meteorological department officials said a total of 23cm snowfall has been recorded so far in the Valley this year, and predictions have indicated more snow in the upcoming days. The last time the Valley saw so much snow was in 1992. In February 2006, it had snowed heavily too, but not comparable to this year with falling snowflakes coinciding with ‘chillai kalan’ – the term…

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‘Chillai Kalan’ tightens grip across Kashmir Valley, Leh coldest at -17.7°C

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The ‘Chillai kalan’ has crossed the halfway mark and tightened its grip in the region leading to shivers and freezing cold as the Leh town in the Ladakh region was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir as it shivered at the season’s lowest temperature of -17.7 °C – down nearly two degrees from yesterday’s -16 °C, an official at the Meteorological Department said. The tourist resort of Gulmarg, 50 km from here in north Kashmir, which attracts more snow skiers during winters, recorded the lowest temperature of -13.5…

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Life during Chillai Kalan, Kashmir’s harshest period of winter

Editor

The Valley is cloaked in white, the sun has all but disappeared and the most promising source of heat is the kanger, the traditional fire pot. The air is tinged with blue and grey, filled plumes of smoke and burnt wood. Pools of water on the streets freeze over, only to crack with a harsh sound when stepped on. This is chillai kalan, the 40 harshest days of winter in Kashmir that begins on December 21. Till the end of January, life in the Valley is going to be slow-placed…

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Minus the snow, New Year festivity minimal this time

Editor

Even as Kashmir is going through a prolonged dry spell with life limping back to the usual after the summer unrest, there will be no major New Year celebrations in the Valley. New Year revellers along with tourists usually celebrate the occasion at Gulmarg but the North Kashmir ski resort is awaiting snowfall. A few high-end hotels will be holding low-profile private parties and events on New Year’s Eve but most of the other hotels have decided to give the celebrations a miss. “There will be no New Year gala…

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Less snowfall in Kashmir valley leaves experts, tourists worried

Editor

Over the past three years, the month of December has twice been dry in the picturesque Kashmir valley, a phenomenon that has worried environmentalists and disappointed tourists. This year, it is for the sixth time since 1993 when Kashmir saw a dry, or almost dry, month of December. Apart from a brief spell of snow or light rains on December 11 and 12 this year, local residents and tourists have been looking ahead to snow in the mountains and plains. In Kashmir, the harshest period of winter starts from December…

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Kashmir Valley witnessing longest dry spell of decade

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No Rains, Snow For 5th Consecutive Month As the Meteorological Department predicted no rains or snow for the coming week, ongoing dry spell is likely to enter fifth month, Kashmir’s longest dry period of the decade. Sonam Lotus, Director local MeT Department told Kashmir Post that dry spell continues as western disturbances failed to bring enough moisture to Kashmir. “From mid-September to till date, Kashmir has only recorded 5 mm of rainfall against the normal rainfall of 100mm,” he said. He informed as per normal rainfall, the Kashmir must have…

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Cold wave tightened grips across Kashmir, Weatherman predicts no respite

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Cold wave tightened its grip across Kashmir as minimum temperature dropped at most places in the Valley, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 5.5 degree Celsius last night, officials said on Friday. On Friday—the third day of 40-day-long harshest winter period called ‘Chillai-Kalan’—the Dal Lake in Srinagar and most other water bodies in the Valley were seen partially frozen. “The maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar on Friday was 8.1 degree Celsius while the minimum was minus 5.5 degree Celsius,” a Meteorological department official here told Kashmir Post. He said…

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Kashmir braces for ‘Chillai Kalan’, Leh records season’s coldest night, temp drops to minus 13.8

Editor

As Kashmir braces for Chillai Kalan, the harshest 40-day spell of winter, the fast dipping sub-zero temperature has slowed down the pace of daily life here. Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 4.2 degree Celsius on Sunday night, a minus-three-degree Celsius departure from the normal. The maximum day temperature too fell to nine degree Celsius. “Most shops open after 10 a.m. in Srinagar to avoid the morning cold wave,” said Reyaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper at Srinagar’s commercial hub Lal Chowk. Government employees too are showing up late for work. Chillai…

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At -4.9°C Srinagar records coldest night of season

Editor

Srinagar experienced its coldest night of the season as the mercury settled nearly five degrees below freezing point, resulting in freezing of water supply lines and water bodies. The temperature at night was recorded at minus 4.9°C, down from the previous night’s – 4.5°C, an official of the Meteorological Department said. The official said the sub-zero temperatures have resulted in freezing of water supply lines in many areas of the Valley, while fringes of several other water bodies were also frozen. Qazigund also recorded its lowest temperature of the season…

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