NEW DELHI: Arctic conditions prevailed in Jammu and Kashmir with mercury further dipping to minus 35 degrees Celsius in the state even as icy winds continued to make rounds.
The toll in the current cold conditions in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 50 with the recovery of two more bodies in Doda district as most parts of Ladakh reeled under the grip of Arctic conditions with temperatures nose-dived to minus 15 degrees Celsius.
Reports from frontier region said normal life was paralysed in several parts of Leh district as temperatures nose-dived to minus 15 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures in Zanskar and Drass areas in Kargil district hovered around minus 20 degrees to minus 35 degrees Celsius.
Fresh snowfall in many parts of Kashmir valley and upper reaches of Jammu region further worsened the cold conditions in the state
Srinagar recorded minimum temperature of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius while temperatures varied at hill resorts of Gulmarg Pahalgam and Sona Marg between minus ten degrees and minus 14 degrees Celsius reports said.
Icy winds lashing parts of Himachal further intensified with fresh snowfall in higher reaches of the state. The Lahaul and Spiti district were under intense cold conditions as the night temperature dropped to minus 38 degrees Celsius.
The normal life within the tribal areas of Kinnaur Lahaul Spiti Pangi and Bharmaur and land locked Bara Bhangal and Dodra Kwar remained paralysed following heavy snowfall and the areas remained cut off.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 18, 1991
