A partially frozen waterfall in Gulmarg’s Drang area has become a major attraction, drawing hundreds of tourists who gathered to witness and photograph the breathtaking winter phenomenon. The natural spectacle underscores the resurgence of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir following last year’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. Visitors braved the biting cold to experience the region’s renowned scenic beauty during peak winter season.
Despite a slight increase in minimum temperatures across the Kashmir Valley, sub-zero conditions continued to prevail, causing parts of Dal Lake and other water bodies to freeze over. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, a marginal rise from the previous night’s minus 5.2 degrees Celsius. Pulwama emerged as the coldest location with a chilling minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Qazigund each settled at minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.
The India Meteorological Department forecast predominantly dry but cloudy weather in the Valley until January 21, with moderate to dense fog expected over the plains of Jammu division at isolated spots for the next five days. Kashmir remains gripped by ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the 40-day period of intense cold that began on December 21 and will conclude on January 30, characterized by persistently low night temperatures and elevated chances of snowfall.
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Beyond Jammu and Kashmir, severe cold wave conditions persisted across northern India. Delhi logged a minimum temperature of 2.9 degrees Celsius, while sub-zero readings were recorded in parts of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and select areas of Punjab and Haryana. The IMD warned that cold to severe cold wave conditions are very likely to continue over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on January 12 and 13.
Dense fog is also expected to blanket morning hours in northwest India and Bihar over the next five days, adding to travel disruptions and visibility challenges. Authorities have urged residents and visitors in affected regions to exercise caution amid the ongoing spell of extreme winter weather gripping much of the northern plains and Himalayan areas.
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