Muzaffarabad: Both Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, along with Gilgit-Baltistan, are currently experiencing a severe cold wave, with temperatures plunging below freezing point during both day and night. In Indian-administered Kashmir, a 38-year-old cold weather record has been broken, while in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, rivers and lakes are beginning to freeze due to the extreme cold.
The most severe cold is being experienced in the Neelum Valley of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where the temperature in the village of Taobat, located near the Line of Control, has reached a record low of minus 22°C. Other areas of the Neelum Valley, including Kel, Sharda, and Athmaqam, have seen temperatures drop to between minus 2°C and minus 10°C. The intense cold has caused a thick layer of ice to form over large portions of the Neelum River near Shrougi in the Kel area.
The capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, is also experiencing extreme cold, with temperatures dropping below minus 1°C. Additionally, the city is currently engulfed in smog, with dust particles in the air significantly reducing sunlight, which has led to concerns about seasonal illnesses.
According to the Meteorological Department, there is no forecast for rain in December, which will exacerbate the cold conditions. The temperatures in the upper areas of the Neelum Valley, as well as in the districts of Bagh, Rawalakot, and Haveli, have remained below freezing, even during the day.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, a 38-year-old cold weather record was broken when the temperature in Srinagar reached minus 9°C in December. The previous record was set in 1986, when the temperature dropped to minus 8°C on December 31. The temperature in areas like Pahalgam and Qazigund also dropped to minus 8.2°C. With this extreme cold, the “Chilla Kalaan,” or 40 days of harsh winter, has begun in the region.
Gilgit-Baltistan is also under the grip of severe cold, with temperatures in almost all areas dropping below freezing. In Gilgit, the temperature has reached minus 8°C, while in Skardu, it has dropped to minus 11°C.
The areas of Kargil and Ladakh in Indian-administered Kashmir are also facing extreme cold, which has severely disrupted daily life.