City faces acute water scarcity as taps remain frozen
MeT predicts light snowfall in upper reaches
Srinagar: The cold wave further intensified even as people in the summer capital, Srinagar — which recorded the coldest day of the season so far at 0.6 degree — continued to face severe water shortage as taps remained frozen.
However, people are hopeful that there will be some respite from the chill as the 40-km-long Chilai-Kalan, the harshest period of winter, will end today in Kashmir valley. It will be followed by a 20-day-long Chilai-Khurd from Monday and 10-day-long Chilai Bacha before the onset of spring.
The city on Sunday recorded the coldest night and day of the season so far. The mercury during the day dipped further about 2 degrees in Srinagar and settled at 0.6 degree, which is over 8 degree below normal.
People continued to suffer as water taps remained frozen in summer capital, Srinagar and outskirts as severe cold conditions continued. World famous Dal Lake and other water-bodies were also frozen as the city recorded the coldest night in 30 years after the mercury dipped and settled at minus 8.8 degree on Sunday.
Meanwhile, residents from almost all parts of the city, including outskirts complained of water shortage. “Our taps remained frozen for the past three days,” a resident from AazadBastiNatipora, Omar Gassi told UNI.
Due to severe cold wave conditions hundreds of water motors were damaged in Srinagar during the past 72 hours.
A Met department spokesperson said that there could be light snow at few places in Kashmir valley that could result in improvement in night temperature due to overcast conditions.
