Srinagar cold at -3.2 deg; water freezes

Srinagar: Water taps froze in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, after the minimum temperature dipped to minus 3.2 degree Celsius this morning, coldest so far.
Leh in Ladakh region also recorded coldest night of the season when the minimum was recorded at minus 14 degrees.
A Met department spokesman said, “due to open sky, the night temperature will drop further because of no Western Disturbances, originating in the Arabian sea and entering the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan.
However, he said, the day temperature will be above normal despite icy cold winds.
People in Srinagar woke up to a coldest morning of this winter season after the minimum dropped to minus 3.2 degrees, freezing water taps and surfaces of drains at several places, particularly on the outskirts. The temperature was more than two degrees below normal, the spokesman added.
However, the frozen tap water and drain surfaces melted as the day progressed.
Earlier, the lowest temperature was recorded in Srinagar at minus 2.2 degree on November 30.
People in world famous tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam continued to shiver though there was slight improvement in the minimum temperature this morning.
Against minus 10.4 degree, yesterday, lowest of the season so far, the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg recorded minus 10.2 degree this morning.
Because of open sky for the past few days after the ski slopes were covered under snow, the night temperature has dropped.