Srinagar: Leh and Kargil towns in Jammu and Kashmir recorded the coldest temperatures of the season yesterday at minus 17.3 and minus 16.4 degrees Celsius respectively, officials said. Light snowfall has been forecast on New Year eve here. Sonam Lotus, director of the Met office here, said the Kashmir Valley will see light snowfall with or without rain on December 31 and January 1. The minimum temperature was minus 3.7 degrees Celsius in Srinagar. It was minus 7.4 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam and minus 9.6 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg. Jammu recorded a minimum of 3.5 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal, Lotus said. Icy winds blowing from snow-clad mountains into the plains of the Kashmir Valley have added to the intensity of the cold wave. The traditional 40-day period of harsh winter cold known as the ‘Chila Kalan’ started on December 21. Doctors have asked elders and children in particular to wear adequate woollens to escape cold-triggered respiratory diseases.
Delhi minister loses cellphone
New Delhi: Delhi’s new Transport Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj lost his mobile telephone at the Ramlila Maidan where he was sworn in on Saturday. “Lost my micromax mobile at Ramlila Maidan,” Bharadwaj tweeted. His younger brother Gaurav Bharadwaj said: “He lost his phone yesterday and is now without one. He has not filed a police complaint as it is not a case of theft.” Tens of thousands of people thronged the sprawling Ramlila Maidan in the heart of the capital on Saturday to see Arvind Kejriwal take oath as Delhi chief minister along with six ministers, Bharadwaj included.
Weapons haul near LoC
Srinagar: The Indian Army yesterday said it had recovered a major haul of arms and ammunition from near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. “Based on a tip-off from reliable intelligence sources, a search operation was launched by the vigilant troops deployed along the LoC in the Farkian Gali area of the frontier Kupwara district yesterday (Saturday) resulting in the recovery of a major haul of weapons. “A total of 40 weapons including 20 AK-47 rifles, 20 pistols, magazines and ammunition hidden one kilometre inside the LoC were recovered,” a defence spokesman said. Inputs were being received over last few days from sources about likely bids for infiltration or pushing the arms across the LoC, he said.
Kerala leader for Modi as PM
Kottayam: Velapally Natesan, leader of the Ezhava community of Kerala, yesterday backed BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. “In general, there is a feeling among the people here that the Congress-led UPA government has been a failure. It’s most likely that in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Congress will have to pay a heavy price,” Natesan said. Speaking to reporters, he said: “The country will not go to the dogs if Modi rules. Gone are the days when the BJP was considered to ride on the Hindutva platform. Today they are considerate towards minorities also.” The Ezhavas are traditionally engaged in agricultural labour, toddy tapping and ayurvedic medicine.
IANS
