Minimum temperatures in the northern plains have been staying below normal in the absence of any significant system at present. However, due to the layers of snow heaping up in the valleys of Jammu & Kashmir, cold wave conditions continue to prevail in North India. About 5 people have already died due to biting cold conditions. The death toll could rise in the coming days as the minimums are below normal in Punjab, with Amritsar at 1.6°C; in Rajasthan, Churu recorded (-2.7) and Narnaul in Haryana was at (-0.5°C).
In Jammu & Kashmir, the minimum temperatures in most places including Srinagar, Leh and Ladakh are settling below the freezing point. Today, Srinagar recorded (-2.1°C), Pahalgam was at (-7.8°C) and Gulmarg at (-11°C).
Normal life affected in J&K
With frequent spells of heavy snowfall in Jammu & Kashmir, normal life has been paralyzed as the Srinagar-Jammu Highway is still closed for traffic for the fourth consecutive day. In the last 3 days, around 72 cm of fresh snowfall was recorded in Qazigund while, Pahalgam recorded 90 cm. However, precipitation has been minimal in the last 24 hours. In the wake of heavy snowfall, people in the valley have to face a host of problems and live in the fear of avalanches, landslides, frost bites and issues related to black ice.
