Bone chilling cold wave in Kashmir, Ladakh

Srinagar, Jan 18 (IANS) Bone chilling cold wave continued on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with the weather office forecasting another spell of moderate snow and rain on January 24."The cold wave condition will continue in J&K and Ladakh till January 22 after which another spell of light to moderate snow/rain will occur with the main activity on January 24," an official of the meteorological (MET) department said.The 40-day-long period of intense winter chill 'Chillai Kalan' will end on January 31.Most of the water bodies including lakes and streams remained frozen in the valley.Authorities have warned people not to venture out on the frozen surfaces of lakes and other water bodies because it could be fraught with grave risk to life.Srinagar recorded minus 6.4 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature of the day while in Pahalgam and Gulmarg it was minus 6.8 and minus 6, respectively.Leh town of Ladakh recorded minus 11.3, Kargil minus 18.8 and Drass minus 22.1 as the night's lowest temperature.Jammu city had 8.4, Katra 6.7, Batote 2.3, Bannihal minus 0.6 and Bhaderwah 0.5 as the minimum temperature.
--IANS sq/in