Persistent dense fog continues to disrupt daily life in the valley, with Srinagar recording a minimum temperature of minus three degrees Celsius on Monday night. The unrelenting severe cold persists, particularly impacting mornings and making life challenging. The freezing conditions bring discomfort and hardship, offering no respite in the near future. The intense winter disrupts regular routines, leaving people grappling with the extreme cold. Poor visibility due to fog further compounds the challenges on the roads.
Saurabh Mitra, a tourist who arrived in Srinagar from Kolkata a few days ago, said they could not walk around due to severe fog. “Yesterday, when we went out for sightseeing, a thick cloud of smoke filled the sky everywhere. We went around Shalimar Garden… As soon as we climbed up the Shankar Achraya Temple (Srinagar), the visibility began to drop.” He added that they were excited but were wishing for the sun to come out to make good use of their money and time. “I was also accompanied by my children. They were excited. We had planned a Shikara ride at Dal Lake but its visibility was very low,” Mitra, who was on his first visit to Kashmir, said.
According to the Metrological Centre Kashmir, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus three degrees Celsius on Monday night.
Javed Ahmad, a scooter rider who had covered himself with warm clothes, told ANI about the hazards of riding amid the dense fog. “During the ride, I have to turn on the flashlights on my scooter to see the road. And navigate the traffic in my lane with one hand amid low visibility. What can we do?. Amid the mahyem, one can’t understand where a vehicle is going to or coming from.”
The weather department predicted that dry weather along with moderate to dense fog will persist over Central Kashmir, Pulwama and Baramulla till December 31.
As per the MeT forecast, there will be light rain and snow in scattered places, along with cloudy skies during January 1-2. The forty-day period of intense, harsh winter, popularly called ‘Chillai Kalan’ and lasting from December 21 to January 29, is underway in Kashmir.
