Freezing Temperatures Grip Uttarakhand: Rivers and Waterfalls Turn to Ice from Gangotri to Mukteshwar

Dehradun, Uttarakhand: The weather in Uttarakhand remains largely dry, with temperatures dropping sharply across the state. Over the next two to three days, a slight rise of 1–2°C in minimum temperatures is expected, while light to moderate fog may settle in some hilly areas.

Current Weather Conditions

On Wednesday, Dehradun experienced bright sunshine throughout the day, though cold winds made the chill noticeable. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 25.0°C and a minimum of 8.2°C. Other parts of the state reported similar conditions:

• Pantnagar: Max 25.4°C, Min 5.1°C
• Mukteshwar: Max 16.2°C, Min 4.2°C
• New Tehri: Max 16.5°C, Min 3.6°C

In the plains, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar experienced mild morning haze, while the mountain regions faced icy conditions.

Gangotri Rivers and Waterfalls Freeze

At Gangotri Dham, plunging temperatures have frozen rivers, streams, and waterfalls completely. The mercury is dropping below zero, causing Neelang Valley and Gaumukh trek waterways to solidify. Local residents are using ice-covered water for daily needs by melting it in parks.

Meanwhile, in Pithoragarh’s Jyoling Kang, at 14,500 feet near Adi Kailash, even Parvati and Gaurikund water sources have frozen due to the extreme cold. High-altitude lakes in the region are now almost 80% frozen, making night-time visits to these Himalayan areas particularly harsh.

Forecast

The Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre has predicted dry weather across the state until December 2, with temperatures gradually rising in the plains but continuing to remain near freezing in the higher Himalayas. Residents and tourists are advised to exercise caution in mountain areas due to icy conditions and fog.