Cold wave grips Kashmir, At -9.1°C, Ladakh coldest in state, highway open for 1 way traffic

Kashmir continued to remain in the grip of intense cold wave on Friday, even as the Srinagar-Jammu highway was open for one-way traffic, officials said.
A meteorological department official said that thick fog enveloped most parts of Kashmir on Friday, making minimum temperatures touch several notches below freezing point due to clear overnight sky.
Because of the fog, people began their day a little late as the weather condition caused inconvenience to motorists and other commuters, according to several reports and witnesses.
There was no fog, however, around the Srinagar “international” airport and the flight operations there suffered no disruptions, an official said.
The meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded 2.3 degrees Celsius as its minimum temperature, while the same was minus 4.1 degrees Celsius at tourist resort of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and minus 6.1 degrees Celsius at ski-resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district.
Kashmir is presently going through Chilai-Kalan, the 40-day-long harshest winter period, which began on Thursday and will continue till the end of January. During Chilai-Kalan, the chances of snowfall and rains are frequent and maximum.
The minimum temperature in the Ladakh region dipped several notches below zero on Friday as the Kashmir valley remained in the grip of cold wave.
With the 40-day harshest winter period, ‘chillai kalan’, setting in on Thursday, Leh town was the coldest place in the state at -9.1°C, followed by Kargil at -8.2°C.
Srinagar recorded 2.3°C as the minimum temperature while it was -4.1°C in Pahalgam and -6°C in Gulmarg, a met official said.
In the Jammu region, the city recorded 8.3°C as the night’s lowest temperature while Katra town recorded 10°C. Batote, Banihal and Udhampur recorded 5.2°C while Bhaderwah town recorded 2°C as the minimum temperature.
Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface link between Kashmir and rest of the world, was open for one-way traffic, senior superintendent of police, (traffic-rural), Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, said.
Traffic will move from Srinagar to Jammu on Saturday, he said, adding that no vehicle will be allowed from the opposite side.