Majority parts of world famous Dal Lake and other bodies besides snow and water on roads were frozen on Wednesday morning after the summer capital, Srinagar, recorded coldest night of the winter so far after the minimum temperature witnessed sharp drop of about seven notches and settled at minus 7.8 degree.

However, much to the delight of the people after sun came out today though icy cold winds also continued in the city. As the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and other concerned departments failed to clear snow on majority lanes, by-lanes and interior roads, the pedestrian and vehicular movement remained badly affected due to slippery conditions.
Majority parts of Dal Lake, particularly in the interior areas, besides other water bodies were frozen this morning after Srinagar recorded coldest night of the season so far at minus 7.8 degree, which was 5.6 notches below normal minimum temperature. It was minus 0.9 degree which was 1.2 degree above normal on Tuesday, when the maximum temperature was 5.4 degree, one notch below normal.
Shikarawalas were finding it difficult to move through frozen parts of the lake. Tourists staying in house boats and nearby hotels had a pleasant surprise to see frozen parts of the lake.
It was in 1965 when the entire lake was frozen and jeep crossed the frozen surface from one end to another end. However, in late 80s and 90s lake was again frozen and became a major attraction for tourists and locals, who were taking photographs and also playing cricket. Later, walking and playing on the frozen surface of the lake was banned and police personnel were deployed to prevent any accident.
Life was thrown out of gear in the morning when snow and water on roads remained frozen. People find it difficult to walk on the roads due to slippery conditions. Dozens of people were injured after they fell down due to slippery conditions as snow on majority link roads, lanes and by-lanes has not yet been removed. We have not seen such a bad situation in 80s when SMC was not so powerful and there were no snow clearance machines. Still lanes, by-lanes and interior roads were being cleared of snow by engaging labourers, elderly persons said.
Very few vehicles were seen on the roads in the morning, moving in a very low speed due to slippery conditions in the city. However, things changed after sun appeared, much to the delight of people though icy cold winds also continued. Majority shops and business establishments, including at historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, reopened only after 1000 hrs. however, the “Haresa” famous winter dish in Kashmir, witnessed heavy rush of customers. People complained of lake of passenger transport service available in the morning and in the evening. They alleged that in the absence of public transport, three wheelers and cabs are charging them several time extra.
People in many areas, including in the outskirts, complained of water shortage. Our taps were frozen due to chill, they said and hoped that things may improve as the day progresss. However, some people were seen using hot water and burning wood to defreeze the water in the taps.
A Met department spokesman said today that the sky would be mainly clear to generally cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 6 and minus 7 respectively in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.
He said due to clear sky during the night, the minimum temperature drops but maximum temperature improves. Similarly when the sky remained cloudy minimum temperature improves and day become chilly, he said.