Srinagar
Cold wave continues in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday also. According to the Meteorological Department, light rain is expected in the plains of Jammu division and snowfall in the higher areas of the Union Territory during the next 24 hours. In the information released by the Meteorological Department on Saturday, it has been said that it will be generally cloudy and during the next 24 hours there will be light rain in the plains of Jammu division and snowfall in different higher areas of Jammu and Kashmir division. . On Saturday, the minimum temperature was minus 3.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, minus 6.5 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg and minus 7.1 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam.
The minimum night temperature was 7.1 degrees Celsius in Jammu city, 6.1 degrees Celsius in Katra city, 4.2 in Batote, 1.2 in Banihal and 0.9 degrees Celsius in Bhaderwah. The severe winter period lasting 40 days called Chillai Kalan began on 21 December and will end on 30 January. After the end of Chillai Kalan, the weather gradually improves and becomes pleasant in late April and early May, marking the arrival of spring, which is the flower season in Kashmir.
As cold continued to prevail in many areas of the Valley and Jammu division, people used various types of electrical appliances to keep themselves warm. Dependence on electric heating devices remains frustrating for Kashmiris as electricity is in short supply due to various reasons.
Water flow in local rivers is at its lowest during the winter months. This adversely impacts the production capacity of hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir. In such a situation, people use Phiran, a garment made of tweed, and an earthen fire pot called Kangri woven in a willow wicker basket to protect themselves from the bone-chilling cold.
