Cold wave conditions continued unabated in Kashmir Valley with minimum temperatures hovering below freezing point, causing severe problems to the residents.
Even as more than half of the 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir, known as 'Chillai-Kalan', has passed, weather in the Valley continues to remain dry and cold.
The Meteorological Department has said there is a possibility of light rain or snowfall at isolated places in the state over the next 24 hours.
The Valley is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' which began on December 21. The chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent during this period which leads to rise in night temperatures, bringing respite from the cold wave conditions, which otherwise intensify due to dry weather in winters, a MeT official said.
The dry weather has resulted in increased cases of cough, flu and respiratory problems, especially among the children and elderly. The problems of the residents in the Valley are compounded by freezing of water taps, pesky power cuts and development of a thin layer of frost on roads due to severe cold.
Many water bodies, including the famous Dal Lake, were partially frozen as the bone-chilling cold intensified.
With the weather remaining dry, the minimum temperatures in Kashmir and Ladakh region continued to remain below freezing point.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, down by about a degree from the previous night's minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, a MET department spokesman said.
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley in south, recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, same as the previous night, he added.
The mercury in Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, which serves as a base-camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, registered a low of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, slightly up from the previous night's minus 5.0 degrees Celsius, he said.
The minimum temperature in the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg settled at minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, up by one degree from previous night's minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.
The night temperatures in Kupwara, in north Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag, in south, recorded the minimum of minus 2.0 degree Celsius, he said.
Leh, in the frontier Ladakh region, recorded a minimum temperature of minus of 14.2 degrees Celsius, four degrees lower than the previous night's minus 10.2 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.
The data for Kargil was not available, he said.
Though 'Chillai-Kalan' would end on January 31, the winter continues after that. The 40-day period would be followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).
