The coldest December in decades and a prolonged dry spell have sent a shiver through the Valley, which is grappling with choked water pipelines, frozen waterbodies and respiratory ailments.

According to the meteorological department, Srinagar’s temperature plunged to -8.5°C on Friday night, marking an ominous start to Chillai Kalan, the 40-day period of harsh winter in the Valley.

Friday was Srinagar’s coldest December night since 1974 when the city had recorded a low of -10.3°C.

Anantnag recorded -10.5°C, Shopian -10.4°C and Pulwama -10.3°C, respectively.

“The temperature in Srinagar was 6.5°C below normal. We call it a severe cold wave. In the coming days, we also expect more sub-zero temperatures,” a Met official said.

The official said Srinagar’s lowest-ever minimum temperature in this month was -12.8°C on December 13, 1934.

Friday night’s temperature was the third lowest in Srinagar in 133 years.

Many Kashmir residents woke up to choked water pipelines in the morning, which disrupted supply. The condition improved only after a modest rise in temperature during the day.

The intense cold has led to the freezing of several water bodies, including the famous Dal Lake. Multiple videos on Saturday showed boatmen breaking sheets of ice before paddling their boats.

Valley residents have been battling frequent power outages for several days, piling pressure on the Omar Abdullah government, which had promised better electricity supply ahead of the winter.

A prolonged dry spell, the main reason behind the relentless cold wave, has made life tougher for the residents since October. It has not rained here in weeks.

The Met officials on Friday said the rainfall deficit in Kashmir has shot up to
75 per cent from October 1 to December 19.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 21mm rainfall during this period against a normal precipitation of 97.1mm.

Doctors at Srinagar’s Government Medical College have urged high-risk individuals to limit unnecessary exposure to cold during morning and evening hours.

The Met office on Saturday predicted mainly dry weather till December 26 with the possibility of light snowfall in the higher reaches of the Valley on the night of December 21-22.

It said light snow was also possible in the higher reaches from the night of
December 27 to the morning of December 28.

However, the minimum temperature is likely to fall further in the Valley, it said.