New Delhi: The surface of the iconic Dal Lake froze on Monday as an intense cold wave gripped the Kashmir Valley. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -3.7°C, while the maximum temperature reached 7°C, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
“The weather has become very cold, our hands have started freezing, and the Dal Lake has frozen,” a local resident told news agency ANI.
VIDEO | Harshest winter period in Kashmir ‘Chillai Kalan’ started two days back, and with that the iconic, and picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar has started to freeze. Shikara operators were seen breaking the ice sheets formed on the surface of lake through their paddle in order… pic.twitter.com/r08hSlSfmp
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2024
Severe cold wave predicted
The IMD has warned of a severe cold wave in Jammu and Kashmir from December 24. It has urged the residents to brace themselves for even harsher conditions.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has cancelled his scheduled programmes in the Jammu region to focus on addressing the issues arising out of extreme cold in the Kashmir Valley.
“In light of the severe cold spell in the Kashmir Valley and the resultant difficulties with water and electricity supply, I have decided to cancel my forthcoming programmes in Jammu and station myself in Srinagar for the next week to personally monitor the functioning of the Power department and other important departments,” Abdullah announced on social media platform X.
Freezing temperatures across Kashmir
The cold wave has pushed temperatures below freezing across the Valley. Shopian recorded the lowest temperature at -7.3°C, while Zojila, at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, plunged to a bone-chilling -25.0°C.
Here are the recorded minimum temperatures in regions across the valley:
| Region | Temperature (°C) |
| Srinagar | -3.6 |
| Qazigund | -4.8 |
| Pahalgam | -5 |
| Kupwara | -4.3 |
| Kokernag | -4 |
| Gulmarg | -4.8 |
| Sonamarg | -5.1 |
| Zojila | -25 |
| Bandipora | -4.4 |
| Baramulla | -3.4 |
| Budgam | -4.8 |
| Ganderbal | -4.2 |
| Pulwama | -6 |
| Anantnag | -6.1 |
| Khudwani | -5 |
| Kulgam | -4.9 |
| Shopian | -7.3 |
| Larnoo | -6.4 |