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A shallow layer of fog engulfed parts of <keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> on Friday morning, reducing visibility to 500 metres, as the city recorded the coldest morning of the season with mercury dipping to 5.3 degrees Celsius. The Safdarjung Observatory, the primary weather station in the national capital, recorded the minimum temperature at 5.3 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's normal, according to the <keyword id="6355166" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india-meteorological-department" source="Orion">India Meteorological Department</keyword> (<keyword id="6366970" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="imd" source="Orion">IMD</keyword>). This is the lowest temperature recorded so far in the season. The Palam airport logged the lowest visibility level of 200 metres at 5:30 am. Visibility dropped to 500 metres at the Safdarjung airport at 5:30 am, the IMD said. According to the IMD, very dense fog is when visibility is between zero and 50 metres, between 51 and 200 metres is dense fog, between 201 and 500 metres is moderate fog, and between 501 and 1,000 is shallow fog. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 20 degrees Celsius during the day, the IMD said.

At 5.3 deg C, Delhi records season's coldest morning

After witnessing the coldest of the season so far on Friday, the national capital may experience the chilliest day in November in 14 years on Sunday, officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told IANS. Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at IMD and Head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC), informed that cold winds coming after snowfalls in the hills could bring the mercury down to 7-degree Celsius on Sunday. "The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to further reduce to 7-degree C and 24-degree C on Sunday, respectively," he said. On November 29, 2006, the minimum temperature in the national capital had dipped to 7.3-degree C. "As the wind direction continues to be north-westerly, cold winds are coming in from Jammu and Himachal Pradesh, which have received snowfall. Besides, clear skies in the day is causing the heat to dissipate quickly and make the nights cooler than usual," Srivastava explained. However, he also forecast that the temperature is expected to rise in the next three-four days before dropping again after November 27. "Western disturbance and change in wind direction will cause the rise in temperature," Srivastava added. The minimum temperature in the national capital had dropped to 7.5 degrees Celsius on Friday morning, five notches below normal for this time of the year. On Thursday, the city had recorded a minimum temperature of 9.4-degree C. In 2017, the minimum temperature had dipped to 7.6-degree C in the last week of November. IMD data showed that the average normal minimum temperature is 12.9-degree C for this time of the year. Delhi even saw its coldest October in 58 years this time with an average minimum temperature of 17.2-degree C. The lowest temperature recorded last November was 11.4-degree C, while in 2018 it was 10.5-degree C. The IMD is likely to declare a cold wave on Saturday if the temperature remains five degrees below normal. Meanwhile, the city's air quality index fell to the "poor" category on Saturday with a reading of 252. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the forecasting body under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, said that 1,264 fire counts were observed in the neighbouring states and the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM 2.5 is expected to be 13 per cent on Saturday. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/mount-everest-home-to-microplastics-and-melting-glaciers/articleshow/79324609.cms">Microplastics found at the highest point on Earth as the glaciers around Mount Everest’s death zone melt</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/pubg-mobile-india-was-supposed-to-launch-today/articleshow/79315462.cms">PUBG Mobile India was rumoured to launch today — but there is no official update from the company</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/lakshmi-vilas-bank-is-the-fifth-financial-firm-after-ilfs-dhfl-yes-bank-and-pmc-bank-to-collapse-in-india/slidelist/79286096.cms">Lakshmi Vilas Bank is the fifth financial firm to collapse in India within the last 30 months</a>

New Delhi may face the coldest Sunday of November this week, according to the IMD

A cold wave gripped Delhi on Monday as the minimum temperature dropped to 6.3 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal and the lowest in the month of November since 2003, according to the India Meteorological Department. On Sunday, the national capital had recorded a minimum of 6.9 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 24.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest day time temperature so far this month. "The Safdarjung Observatory which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 6.3 degrees Celsius, which is Delhi's lowest minimum temperature in the month since November 2003, when the city recorded a minimum of 6.1 degrees Celsius," Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre, said. The mercury dropped to 6.4 degrees Celsius at the Lodhi Road weather station, he said. For the plains, the IMD declares a cold wave when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 notches less than normal for two consecutive days. "However, for small areas such as Delhi, a cold wave can be declared if the criteria is fulfilled even for a day," Srivastava said. Delhi had recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius last year, 10.5 degrees Celsius in 2018 and 7.6 degrees Celsius in 2017 in the month of November. The all-time record for the lowest minimum temperature in November is 3.9 degrees Celsius recorded on November 28, 1938. Srivastava said icy cold winds blowing from snow-laden western Himalayas have led to a dip in the mercury. However, the minimum temperature will rise by two to three degrees Celsius in the next four to five days under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance. The minimum temperature this month, barring on November 16, has remained 2-3 degrees Celsius below normal in the absence of a cloud cover, according to IMD officials. Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and radiate it back downward, warming the ground. The month of October was the coldest in 58 years in the national capital. The mean minimum temperature in October this year was 17.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1962, when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/how-to-earn-money-at-home-from-googles-task-mate/articleshow/79362215.cms">Google is testing ‘Task Mate’ in India, which lets users earn money for doing tasks on their smartphones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/hdfc-banks-net-banking-upi-services-and-atms-down-due-to-data-centre-outage/articleshow/79344484.cms">HDFC Bank’s net banking, UPI service and ATMs were down due to a 'data centre outage' but RBI demands more detailed information</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/mount-everest-home-to-microplastics-and-melting-glaciers/articleshow/79324609.cms">Microplastics found at the highest point on Earth as the glaciers around Mount Everest’s death zone melt</a>

India's national capital sees its coldest November in 17 years with temperatures dipping to 6.3 degrees Celcius

<keyword id="41568" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Srinagar">Srinagar</keyword>, Srinagar recorded the <keyword id="932133" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coldest-night">coldest night</keyword> after 30 years, as the <keyword id="6359241" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="temperature">temperature</keyword> plummeted to minus 8.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Officials of the meteorological department said the <keyword id="6437100" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="minimum-temperature">minimum temperature</keyword> dropped to minus 8.8 in Srinagar. "From today onwards there is going to be perceptible improvement in the night temperatures in both <keyword id="6360420" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="JK">J&amp;K</keyword> and Ladakh," the officials said adding that the maximum temperature was 2 degrees Celsius in Srinagar on Saturday which is also the lowest maximum recorded this season. Sonam Lotus, director of the MeT department for J&amp;K and Ladakh told IANS that minus 8.8 is the lowest minimum temperature recorded after exactly 30 years in Srinagar. "In 1991 the minimum temperature recorded was minus 11.8 in Srinagar," Lotus said. The 40-day long period of harsh winter cold known locally as the 'Chillai Kalan' ends on Sunday, but not without leaving an indelible mark in the record book for ushering in one of Kashmir's coldest winters in living memory. The minimum temperature was minus 12.0 in Pahalgam and minus 8.0 in Gulmarg. Leh town of Ladakh had minus 16.6, Kargil minus 17.4 and Drass minus 26.2 as the night's lowest temperature. Jammu city had 5.8, Katra 5.4, Batote 1.1, Bannihal 0.6 and Bhaderwah minus 1.5 as the minimum temperature. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/article/the-many-marvels-of-satpura-biosphere-reserve/articleshow/80598269.cms">The many marvels of Satpura Biosphere Reserve in Madhya Pradesh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/india-travel-and-tourism-sector-is-hoping-that-the-budget-2021-wont-leave-them-behind/articleshow/80596702.cms">India’s travel and tourism sector is hoping that the Budget won’t leave them behind</a>

Srinagar records minus 8.8 degrees, coldest night in 30 years

<ul><li>From deserts to towns in the South – many places in India experience <keyword id="6354217" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="snowfall" source="Orion">snowfall</keyword> and bring joy to tourists. </li><li>Many hill stations in Himachal Pradesh are likely to experience snowfall, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). </li><li><keyword id="108228" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gulmarg" source="Orion">Gulmarg</keyword> and Leh are among the areas where one can see snowfall according to details shared by EaseMyTrip and MakeMyTrip with Business Insider India.</li></ul>After the pandemic, people are keen on curating new experiences. If you are one of those and keen on engaging in snowball fights, making snowmen or snow angels, or even enjoying white noise – here are a few Indian destinations you can head to. According to data shared by travel companies EaseMyTrip (EMT) and MakeMyTrip (MMT) with Business Insider India, here are the ten best tourist locations that are most likely to experience snowfall in the coming weeks. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Gulmarg, Jammu &amp; Kashmir" comment="subhead2" text="Gulmarg, Jammu &amp; Kashmir">Gulmarg, Jammu &amp; Kashmir</cmsannotation> A popular skiing destination, Gulmarg in Jammu &amp; Kashmir is home to the world’s highest golf courses. Popularly known as ‘meadow of flowers’, Gulmarg includes multiple famous <a href="https://www.makemytrip.com/tripideas/places/gulmarg">tourist attractions</a>, such as the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve and the Shrine of Baba Reshi, among others. The area has been receiving regular snowfall since this <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/heavy-snowfall-in-gulmarg-other-higher-reaches-in-jammu-and-kashmir-101667847895405.html">November</a>. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Munsiyari, Uttarakhand" comment="subhead2" text="Munsiyari, Uttarakhand">Munsiyari, Uttarakhand</cmsannotation> Munsiyari is another name in the list from Uttarakhand. Located in Pithoragarh district, Munsiyari receives snowfall between December and February every year. It’s often referred to as Little Kashmir and has spectacular views of snow-capped Himalayan ranges, pristine natural beauty, and dense pine and deodar forests. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Auli and Dhanaulti, Uttarakhand" comment="subhead2" text="Auli and Dhanaulti, Uttarakhand"><keyword id="484044" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Auli" source="Orion">Auli</keyword> and Dhanaulti, Uttarakhand</cmsannotation> Auli, in Uttarakhand, is another hill station famous for skiing and other winter sports, like snowboarding, trekking, and even chair car riding. Auli is already experiencing chilly winters and light snow showers and is expected to receive complete snowfall in the coming days. According to travel companies EaseMyTrip and MakeMyTrip, Auli is one of the top destinations to experience <keyword id="7028163" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="snowfall-in-India" source="Orion">snowfall in India</keyword>. Apart from Auli, EaseMyTrip also listed Dhanaulti in Uttarakhand as a region where there could be snowfall. Dhanaulti is as easily accessible due to its more popular neighbour, Mussoorie - but is far less crowded and still retains the peace and tranquillity that hill stations are known for. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh" comment="subhead2" text="Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh">Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh</cmsannotation> MMT also included Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh in the list of places in India to see snowfall. Tawang, famous for its monastery and the Bumla pass, is one of the few places in India where snowfall starts before December. This year, Tawang received the <a href="https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/arunachalpradesh/snowfall-delight-for-people-of-tawang-bomdila/">season’s first snowfall </a>in October. While it’s a stunning place to visit, people should be careful as there is a possibility of excessive snow leaving certain areas inaccessible. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Ladakh" comment="subhead2" text="Ladakh">Ladakh</cmsannotation> From regular tourists to adventure junkies to trekkers, Ladakh is the go-to-destination for most people. <a href="https://leh.nic.in/tourist-place/pangong/">Home</a> to the world’s highest saltwater lake – Pangong Lake– Ladakh is one of the few destinations that live up to the hype it generates. During winters, Ladakh is a vision to behold with frozen lakes, and snowcapped mountains, along with the <a href="https://leh.nic.in/tourism/places-of-interest/">Khardongla pass</a>, Panamik hot spring, and needless to say – snowfall. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Shimla, Himachal Pradesh" comment="subhead2" text="Shimla, Himachal Pradesh"><keyword id="6357787" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="shimla" source="Orion">Shimla</keyword>, Himachal Pradesh</cmsannotation> As per <a href="https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/tourists-throng-hill-stations-in-himachal-imd-predicts-snowfall-after-december-2920221227034915/">ANI</a>, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently predicted that many hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, including the more popular and easily accessible capital city Shimla, are likely to receive snowfall in late December. Both MMT and EMT also picked Shimla as one of India’s ‘snowfall destinations’. The news has already led to a surge in tourists travelling to these places. Chamba, Kullu and Spiti are the other regions in Himachal Pradesh where snowfall is predicted. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh" comment="subhead2" text="Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh">Narkanda, Himachal</cmsannotation> Rikant Pittie, co-founder, travel agency EaseMyTrip, also listed Shimla and Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh among the regions that may experience snowfall. A picturesque town, Narkanda’s major tourist attractions <a href="https://www.thrillophilia.com/cities/narkanda">include </a>the Tanni Jubbar Lake, revered Hindu temple of Hatu Mata Mandir, and Shimla’s second-highest peak, Hatu Peak. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Zuluk, Sikkim" comment="subhead2" text="Zuluk, Sikkim">Zuluk, Sikkim</cmsannotation> The widespread popularity of hill stations in North India makes Zuluk one of the most underrated spots on the list. Situated at the height of 10,000 feet in East Sikkim, Zuluk is a <a href="https://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Public/PlacesToGo/popularattractiondetails/PA20A001">small hamlet </a>that was once a transit point to the historic Silk Route from Tibet to India. During the winters, which start from October and last till February, the area receives 3-5 feet of snow. Zuluk is a restricted area and tourists need to obtain a special <a href="https://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Public/PlacesToGo/popularattractiondetails/PA20A001">‘Inner Line Permit’ </a>before travelling here. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lambasingi, Andhra Pradesh" comment="subhead2" text="Lambasingi, Andhra Pradesh">Lambasingi, Andhra Pradesh</cmsannotation> Yet another underrated location shared by EMT, Lambasingi is a small village in Andhra Pradesh. The <a href="https://aptourism.gov.in/destinations/94/lambasingi">only place </a>in South India to receive snowfall, Lambasingi is famous for its tea and coffee plantations along with apple and strawberry farms. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Yumthang Valley, Sikkim" comment="subhead2" text="Yumthang Valley, Sikkim">Yumthang Valley, Sikkim</cmsannotation> MMT also picked Yumthang Valley in North Sikkim for a snowfall experience. Yumthang Valley <a href="https://www.tourmyindia.com/states/sikkim/yumthang-valley.html">offers</a> yak rides, stunning views of Panhunri and Shundu Tsenpa peaks, the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, and the Yumthang Hot Spring, where the water remains warm even in the coldest of winters. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/recession-will-be-an-opportunity-for-it-services-firms-focused-on-transformation-as-per-mphasis-ceo/articleshow/96544373.cms">Recession will be an opportunity for IT services firms focused on transformation: Mphasis CEO</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/delhi-ncr-and-bengaluru-are-indias-biggest-office-markets-in-2022-jll-report/articleshow/96573976.cms">Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru are India’s biggest office markets in 2022: JLL report</a>

From Auli to Zuluk, 10 places in India where you can experience snowfall

<ul><li>A bone chilling cold wave is spreading across many parts of India and in some places, temperatures fell as low as 1 degree Celsius. </li><li>Life has stagnated in many places across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, <keyword id="6360078" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="chandigarh">Chandigarh</keyword>, <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and a fewer isolated places in Rajasthan. </li><li>With temperatures dropping to minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, <keyword id="41568" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Srinagar">Srinagar</keyword> recorded the coldest night ever. </li><li>Most parts of Punjab and Haryana on Monday saw a slight rise in the mercury despite dense fog. </li></ul>The year of 2019 took Indians through many extreme weather incidents, and the last few days are no exception. A bone chilling cold wave is spreading across many parts of India and in some places, temperatures fell as low as 1 degree Celsius. Life has stagnated in many places across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and a fewer isolated places in Rajasthan. Here are 10 chilling pictures of one of India’s coldest winters: Srinagar records its coldest night ever 
 
 
 
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 With temperatures dropping to minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, Srinagar recorded the coldest night ever. The hill station of Gulmarg recorded a night temperature of -7.8 degrees on December 29 while the temperature was -10. 2 degrees in Pahalgam. 
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 Drass, a small town situated 60 km from Kargil, was freezing too as the mercury dipped to minus -28.8 degrees Celsius. In Srinagar, the fringe of the Dal lake was frozen and the boatmen had to cut ice to navigate their boats. Himachal records temperature below freezing point 
 
 
 
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 Large parts of Himachal Pradesh reeled under severe cold on December 30 with the minimum temperature staying below freezing point. But Shimla’s night temperature rose to 3.6 degrees Celsius due to cloudy conditions. A day before, the temperatures were as Ilow as 2.8 degrees. Delhi’s fog leads to flight cancellations 
 
 
 
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 Delhi is witnessing one of its coldest winters in 15 years. The city woke up with a temperature of 2.6 degrees celsius — lower than that of Shimla. 
 
 
 
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 As many as 20 flights have been diverted and 4 canceled from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) due to dense fog-induced low visibility. Meteorologists at Skymet Weather predicted a gradual increase in the day and night temperatures of the National Capital Territory during the next two to three days. Punjab, Haryana shiver: Faridkot at 0.7 degrees 
 
 
 
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 Most parts of Punjab and Haryana on Monday saw a slight rise in the mercury despite dense fog. Faridkot town recorded the coldest temperature in the region with a minimum of 0.7 degree Celsius. 
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 <keyword id="6359825" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="amritsar">Amritsar</keyword> city recorded 1.2 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal for this time of the year.Ludhiana and Patiala registered a minimum temperature of 4.6 and 4.5 degrees Celsius, respectively. Chandigarh, joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded a minimum temperature of 3.5 degrees. The pink city reels under 1 degree Celsius <div type="image" title="b685f0cf6f2bf32675d893f02fe4a247 (1)" msid="73030167" hostid="261"></div> <keyword id="6354779" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jaipur">Jaipur</keyword> recorded 1 degree Celsius temperature on December 30, smashing its Sunday's record of 1.4 degrees. That was the second lowest temperature it saw in the last 55 years. Other cities in Rajasthan like Ajmer, Alwar, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Chittaurgrh, Abu Road, Jailsalmer, Bikaner and Falodi too touched a temperature below five degrees. Bihar shivers at temperature below five degrees Celsius 
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 The minimum temperature of Patna city plummeted to 6.8 degrees Celsius. Gaya was the coldest place in the state with a low of 5.3 degrees Celsius. In Bhagalpur and Purnia, the minimum temperatures settled at 7.3 degrees and 6.8 degrees, respectively. Meanwhile, coldwave conditions intensified across the state due to a spell of chill and fog, according to the Patna Meteorological Centre. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/licypriya-kangujam-from-india-the-worlds-youngest-climate-activist-stands-with-greta-thunberg-and-demands-three-new-policies/articleshow/72451200.cms">Licypriya Kangujam from India - the world’s youngest climate activist - stands with Greta Thunberg and demands three new policies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/shocking-pictures-of-extreme-natural-disasters-in-2019-that-reminded-the-world-that-climate-change-is-for-real/articleshow/72486537.cms">Shocking pictures of extreme natural disasters in 2019 that reminded the world that climate change is for real</a>

Ten spine chilling pictures of India’s cold wave

The induction of <keyword id="21291143" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heavy-lift-helicopters" source="keywords">heavy-lift helicopters</keyword> and <keyword id="21291142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="logistic-drones" source="keywords">logistic drones</keyword>, deployment of all-terrain vehicles and laying of an extensive network of tracks are among a host of measures that have enhanced India's <keyword id="20889609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="combat-prowess" source="keywords">combat prowess</keyword> in Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, officials said on Saturday. As the <keyword id="19908736" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army" source="keywords">Indian Army</keyword> marks the 40th year of its presence on the strategically-significant <keyword id="20282432" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Siachen-glacier" source="keywords">Siachen glacier</keyword>, the officials said there have been extensive improvements in the operational capabilities of the force due to the enhancement of infrastructure in the region in the last few years. The Siachen glacier at the height of around 20,000 feet in the Karakoram mountain range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds. Under its "<keyword id="21291144" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Operation-Meghdoot" source="keywords">Operation Meghdoot</keyword>", the Indian Army established its full control over the glacier on April 13, 1984. "The Indian Army's control over the Siachen glacier has not only been a story of unparalleled valour and determination but also an incredible journey of technological advancements and logistical improvements that transformed it from one of the most formidable terrains into a symbol of indomitable spirit and innovation," said an official. The initiatives, especially laid out in the last five years, have made significant strides in improving the living conditions and operational capabilities of the personnel deployed in Siachen, he said on the condition of anonymity. In January last year, Captain Shiva Chauhan from the Army's Corps of Engineers was posted at a frontline post in the Siachen glacier, in the first such operational deployment of a woman Army officer at a key battlefield. The official cited above said there has been a noteworthy improvement in the aspect of mobility in Siachen. "The development of an extensive network of tracks and the introduction of all-terrain vehicles (ATV) have significantly improved mobility across the glacier," he said. Another official said innovations like the DRDO-developed ATV bridges have enabled the Army to overcome natural obstacles, while high-quality "Dyneema" ropes in aerial cableways ensure seamless supply lines to even the most-remote outposts. "The induction of heavy-lift helicopters and logistic drones has vastly improved the supply of essentials to the personnel deployed in posts that are cut off, especially in winters," he said. "The availability of special clothing, mountaineering equipment and advanced rations has enhanced the ability of the soldiers to withstand the harsh conditions of the world's coldest battlefield," the official added. He said gadgets, such as pocket weather trackers, with each soldier provides timely weather updates and warn them about possible avalanches. "Recent initiatives concerning the improvement of connectivity have ensured that the personnel in forward posts in the northern and central glacier regions have access to fresh ration and vegetables instead of tinned ration, an aspect that could not have been imagined a few years ago," the official said. "Fresh ration and vegetables are now a reality for our forward posts, thanks to new logistic initiatives," he added. There has been a focus on improvement in mobile and data connectivity in the region as well. "The introduction of the VSAT technology has revolutionised communication on the glacier, providing the troops with data and internet connectivity," the second official said. "This leap in technology has enhanced real-time situational awareness, telemedicine capabilities and the well-being of our soldiers by keeping them connected with their families," he said. The VSAT or very small aperture terminal is a data-transmission technology. The Army has also been focusing on boosting the medical infrastructure in Siachen. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has established telemedicine nodes that provide critical medical support not only to the troops but also to the local populace and tourists in the Nubra valley. "The medical facilities in Partapur and the base camp boast of some of the best medical and surgical specialists, state-of-the-art HAPO chambers and oxygen generation plants, besides life-support systems. This has ensured that all endeavours are made to save every life in this challenging terrain," said a third official. The HAPO (High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema) chamber is a life-saving device that provides emergency treatment in medical conditions relating to breathlessness and accumulation of fluids in the lungs etc. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank">Telecom companies may hike tariffs by up to 17% after the general elections, predict analysts</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-rizta-vs-tvs-iqube-which-family-scooter-should-you-buy/articleshow/109233645.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-rizta-vs-tvs-iqube-which-family-scooter-should-you-buy/articleshow/109233645.cms" target="_blank">Ather Rizta vs TVS iQube – Which family scooter should you buy?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/playstation-5-is-now-available-at-a-discount-of-10000-for-a-limited-period/articleshow/109183034.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/playstation-5-is-now-available-at-a-discount-of-10000-for-a-limited-period/articleshow/109183034.cms" target="_blank">PlayStation 5 is now available at a discount of ₹10,000 for a limited period</a>

Indian Army marks 4 decades of presence in Siachen glacier

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Samantha Shea had never been outside the US before she started college in 2014.</li><li>After graduating in 2019, she visited India and Pakistan while developing her travel writing.</li></ul>When I tell people from back home that I live in Northern Pakistan, I'm usually met with shock.Their disbelief escalates when I show them pictures of the snow-capped Karakoram mountain range that surround the village where I live."I thought Pakistan was a desert" is the most common response. As wrong as they are, I don't blame them. I didn't know much about Pakistan before traveling there after college. I live in Hunza Valley, 8,500 feet above sea level on the border with Western China, where I work as a digital nomad.When I first came to Pakistan in 2019, I was a recent University of Miami grad who'd never lived outside the US. <div type="image" title="A drone shot of Hunza Valley in early May." height="3648" width="4864" msid="100102321" hostid="261"></div>In Hunza, electricity comes on for only a few hours a day, you walk to the local market if you need anything – Amazon doesn't deliver to the mountainous valley region – and running hot water isn't guaranteed. The valley has, despite these elements, become my home. Here, I don't lock up my bike or my front door, I can walk everywhere, and my recent major home renovation cost me only $3,000. <h2>Current guidance around traveling to Pakistan </h2>The US travel advice for Pakistan is to avoid traveling to Balochistan province, many parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Indian-Pakistan border because of the potential for terrorist attacks, kidnapping, and armed conflict at the border.The US government warns that the assistance it can provide citizens traveling in Pakistan is limited because of these security issues. However, I have personally traveled to some of these areas and did not feel unsafe at the time.Although this doesn't mean these threats aren't real and something to consider, many foreign nationals and local Pakistani people travel to the Hunza Valley without incident. Forbes recently named Pakistan an <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabel/2020/01/02/the-not-hot-list-10-best-under-the-radar-trips-for-2020/?sh=acd0ba222647" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">up-and-coming adventure vacation</a>. CN Traveller also awarded Pakistan as their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d18T5ypYzgM&amp;t=16s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">top holiday destination in 2020</a>.<h2>My journey to a remote village in Northern Pakistan </h2>My love of travel began at college. From 2014 to 2019, I was a student at the University of Miami in Florida. While I loved my school, being by the beach, and Florida's eternal summer, I never felt settled in Miami. <div type="image" title="Samantha Shea, young woman stood in front of the Miami beach shoreline." height="2688" width="3583" msid="100102323" hostid="261"></div>Because I grew up in suburban Connecticut, the move to a busy city was a big adjustment. It was noisy and fast-paced, and the proximity to crime, common in urban areas, put me on edge. I had never traveled outside the US growing up, but I fell in love with backpacking at college. My trips became more and more offbeat. I was traveling through India the summer before my senior year in 2018 when I decided to pursue a career in travel. <h2>I wanted to become a freelance travel blogger after graduation</h2><h2><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea graduating from the university of Miami sat on the college's sign." height="2179" width="2906" msid="100102325" hostid="261"></div></h2>I worked three part-time jobs while finishing my degree to save up for my indefinite adventure.After graduating in 2019, I set off for India again, traveling around the country and into neighboring Pakistan. Despite media negativity and concerns from family and friends, I didn't feel nervous crossing the border from India. I traveled from the historical city of Lahore to the Hindu Kush mountains of Upper Chitral — a region that directly borders Afghanistan — and felt comfortable everywhere I went. <div type="image" title="Samantha Shea in Swat Valley Pakistan" height="2316" width="3088" msid="100102329" hostid="261"></div>I found it easier and more fun to travel here than in India, a much more "mainstream" backpacking destination. I encountered fewer scammers traveling in Pakistan. I also found Pakistan had less trash on the streets, and the roads were in better condition.<h2>I worked for DoorDash and learned Urdu while waiting out COVID-19 limitations</h2>In December 2019, I returned to my family home with the plan to move to Pakistan full time in the spring as a digital nomad.My plans were halted by COVID-19. I spent the next year learning Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, and delivering for DoorDash. I also finally saw some freelance traction. I got my first paid byline, increased my blog traffic, and freelanced in content writing and social-media management. I wanted to have established myself as a digital nomad before I left home.In April 2021, I traveled alone to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. I hadn't arranged a guide and had no plan beyond my first few nights at a hostel. To many, my trip seemed insane, but I was committed. <h2><div type="image" title="The vistas on a multi-day hike to the Shimshal Pass, not far from the Chinese border." height="2614" width="3486" msid="100102331" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2>Why Hunza Valley? </h2>My 2021 journey brought me to Hunza Valley for a reason. I'd head it was well known as the safest destination for <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Hunza-Valley-women-challenge-Pakistani-patriarchy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solo female travelers</a>, largely due to its <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/high-up-on-a-pakistani-mountain-a-success-story-for-moderate-islam/2015/07/22/f0b878d2-2572-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">liberal culture toward women</a>.<div type="image" title="Woman walking Hunza Valley" height="4854" width="6472" msid="100102550" hostid="261"></div>Hunza Valley is a remote area in Northern Pakistan. The Gatorade-blue rivers and snow-capped mountains make Hunza a popular tourist destination. The local community is known for its hospitality, and I immediately felt at home – something I'd never felt in big-city America.The community is welcoming of outsiders — respecting and taking care of guests is a core value here. Before 9/11, there were droves of foreign travelers coming to Hunza, and many locals and their families worked in tourism, so I was welcomed readily. <div type="image" title="The Karakoram highway that cuts through Hunza" height="3648" width="4864" msid="100102551" hostid="261"></div>Hunza is home to a <a href="https://www.thejuggernaut.com/ismaili-muslims-pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority Ismaili community</a>, a liberal sect of Islam. Teens hang out in mixed groups, women own restaurants and shops, and it's common for girls to receive higher education.I settled in Hunza and have lived here for nearly two years.<h2>Many Westerners I've spoken with have trepidations about Pakistan</h2><h2><div type="image" title="Shea sits with locals in a small seaside village on the border of Sindh and Balochistan in the far south of Pakistan." height="3448" width="4597" msid="100102553" hostid="261"></div></h2>Hunza itself could not be safer. I don't worry about locking my bike, or even my doors. I've never witnessed a crime of any kind, nor any of the terrorist incidents the US State Department warns travelers of.Barely a day after I'd arrived, I found myself lost on a 5-mile trek I set out on alone. Wandering, I ran into a young male shepherd. He insisted on showing me the route back and carrying my bag.I kept waiting for "that moment" for which all solo female travelers are on high alert — but it never came. The shepherd was polite and helped me safely find the trail.<div type="image" title="Hunza valley in Northern Pakistan" height="1066" width="1422" msid="100102555" hostid="261"></div>I think I felt more comfortable in Hunza than I did in Miami for several reasons: The local cuisine shared many similarities with my Polish grandma's recipes, I experienced daily peace, and being surrounded by 20,000-foot peaks made me feel like I positively was on another planet.<div type="image" title="Traditional spread of Hunza foods." height="1405" width="1874" msid="100102558" hostid="261"></div>I didn't have great WiFi for the first few months of living in Hunza, which was stressful at times. I've since found work-arounds, but it's not simple. <h2>The biggest issue is that electricity comes on for only around 5 or 6 hours a day, primarily at night</h2>I knew Northern Pakistan didn't have great electricity from my 2019 trip to other mountain valleys. Regardless, I always travel with a power bank.I remember times when the electricity wouldn't come on as planned and I'd forgotten to charge my devices properly. I found it incredibly stressful, especially if I had a lot of work.<div type="image" title="Cycling in the Hunza Valley" height="1410" width="1884" msid="100102560" hostid="261"></div>Once, while on a road trip through Upper Chitral, another mountainous region in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, my power bank fell in water and wouldn't turn on.I was in an area even more remote than Hunza and knew the power bank likely wasn't sold anywhere in Pakistan. The bank amazingly came back to life, but I did end up breaking another one a year later.When these things happen, it makes me miss conveniences like Amazon, but a company called Daraz does manage to deliver plenty of items to Hunza within two or three days. Power banks and other electronics can also be sourced from other countries via Packr, an app I've used several times to receive items from the US.Now I have a permanent home, I've arranged more long-term solutions. I bought a $35 UPS car battery at a local market, which keeps my WiFi router and basic lights working 24/7. I also have two 26,800-mAh Anker power banks as backups, the 2nd of which I purchased after that road-trip scare.<h2><div type="image" title="Car battery for back up electricity." height="5304" width="7072" msid="100102562" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2>How I live and work in Hunza Valley</h2>One month of accommodation costs between $150 and $250 on average — a far cry from the $1,300 I paid in Miami to share an apartment with roommates.My life in Hunza began in Gojal, the local name for the northern portion of the region. When I arrived, I stayed in hotels. Nowhere I stayed cost more than $15 a night, and if I got a long-stay rate, they averaged closer to $8 a night.<div type="image" title="Gate to a house in Hunza Valley" height="7477" width="4987" msid="100102564" hostid="261"></div>Hunza was slightly more expensive than I thought, especially before I found permanent accommodation. I was shocked by how expensive some hotels were. Budget options are available, but a large portion of Hunza's tourism caters to the wealthy sector of the domestic market.This experience has positively influenced my career as a freelancer. I've had my stories published in major media outlets. I also run an Instagram account and a YouTube channel focusing on life here and helping travelers plan their trips.<h2><div type="image" title="Shea speaking at a tourism event in Hunza" height="2274" width="3024" msid="100102569" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2>I now live in Aliabad in central Hunza, the largest town in the district </h2><div type="image" title="Samantha Shea and her boyfriend sat outside their house." height="1737" width="2316" msid="100102572" hostid="261"></div>I met my now partner, Fareed, in a local coworking space a few months after I arrived in Hunza. He was born and raised in Hunza and now works in trekking tourism.We're happily settled in Aliabad in central Hunza, close to my partner's family, who have become a second family to me. I've started learning Burushaski, one of the two major languages spoken in the valley. My partner speaks perfect English, so there's no language barrier.Aliabad has high-speed fiber-cable WiFi, which makes uploading content or taking Zoom calls easy, and it's where you'll find amenities like ATMs, stores, small hospitals, and a few restaurants and shops.<div type="image" title="Hunza Valley drone" height="3156" width="4208" msid="100102574" hostid="261"></div><h2>Even so, Aliabad is still a village in many ways</h2>The main roads are paved, but many residential areas have dirt roads. Everything from the doctor to my cellphone provider is within a 15-minute walking radius. My partner and I moved into a house his parents owned. It had no electricity, flooring, or running water. We recently renovated two rooms and added a bathroom with running water and a Western toilet. It ended up costing about $3,000.<div type="image" title="Samantha Shea, a digital nomad stands with her boyfriends' mother and grandmother." height="2264" width="3019" msid="100102577" hostid="261"></div>If we were renting, it would cost around 20,000 Pakistani rupees a month, or about $50. Renting might have been cheaper in the short term, but I love having a space all our own.A meal at a restaurant is usually between $2 for local spots and $7 for Western fare, but cooking at home is much less expensive and often tastier. WiFi costs around $8 for unlimited data each month, and I pay $4 for 10 gigabytes of data for my SIM card.<div type="image" title="Woman eating Yak burger in Hunza Valley, Pakistan" height="5301" width="7068" msid="100102579" hostid="261"></div>Hot water is also not a given in Hunza — but an $80 gas-powered water heater solved that, with refills totaling about $20 a month. The electricity that does come is only about $2 a month, and the cold running water, sourced from a glacier, is free.<div type="image" title="2000-gallon water tank in Hunza Valley" height="5203" width="6937" msid="100102582" hostid="261"></div>Aliabad has a cold desert climate.<div type="image" title="Yak burger on traditional stove." height="2073" width="2764" msid="100102587" hostid="261"></div>The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Frequently frozen pipes and a lack of central heating mean winter can be difficult.Having spent most of my life in Connecticut, I was used to cold, long winters, and I find Hunza's to be shorter. Winter limits my daily activities, but it almost feels like a cozy hibernation period.I spend lazy days working by my bukhari — a traditional fireplace.<div type="image" title="Hunza Valley local drying apricots." height="3448" width="4597" msid="100102590" hostid="261"></div><h2>The benefits of living in Hunza Valley far outweigh any negatives</h2>I save thousands each month compared with living in a US city, and my quality of life is infinitely better.I avoid the American hustle culture, which I find toxic. The people I meet in Hunza are generally quiet, polite, and respectful. I breathe clean air and eat organic, home-cooked food for every meal. Though my solo journey to Pakistan started as a trip, Hunza Valley is now my home. I've even obtained the equivalent of permanent residency. With the money I've saved, I hope to travel to other countries, with Hunza as my base.

I left Miami for a remote village in Pakistan. I have no running hot water and limited electricity &mdash; but my quality of life here is infinitely better.

<keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> will witness one of the coldest days this winter season with the minimum temperature dipping to 5 degrees Celsius on December 20, data from the India Meteorological Department (<keyword id="6366970" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="imd" source="Orion">IMD</keyword>) revealed on Tuesday. According to the IMD, the minimum temperature will settle at 7 degrees Celsius till Thursday, 6 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, and 5 degrees on December 20. The maximum temperature too, will drop to 21 degrees Celsius with foggy mornings throughout the week. The maximum temperature for Tuesday in the national capital has been pegged at 23 degrees Celsius, while the relative humidity at 8.30 a.m. was recorded at 95 per cent. After a day of slight improvement, Delhi-NCR's <keyword id="2071721" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Quality-Index" source="Orion">Air Quality Index</keyword> (AQI) again deteriorated to the 'very poor' category. The AQI at 9 a.m. was recorded at 335, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research's (<keyword id="289484" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SAFAR" source="Orion">SAFAR</keyword>) estimates. The levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5 pollutants in the air were recorded at 274 and 165 in the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories, respectively. "The air quality over Delhi-NCT is likely to remain in the very poor category on December 14 and 15. The air quality is likely to improve and remain in the lower end of the very poor to poor category on December 16. The air quality is likely to improve significantly from December 16 onwards due to relatively stronger wind," said the air quality and weather bulletin for Delhi-NCR. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/virat-kohli-to-skip-the-upcoming-south-africa-odi-series-says-report/articleshow/88270993.cms">Virat Kohli to skip the upcoming South Africa ODI series, says report</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/tesla-boss-elon-musk-named-person-of-the-year-by-time-magazine/slidelist/88269832.cms">Tesla boss Elon Musk named ‘Person of the Year’ by Time magazine</a>

Delhi's minimum temperature to dip to 5 degrees on December 20, says IMD

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="59606" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="arctic">Arctic</keyword> strategy released by the Army in March reflects the US military's increasing focus on the region.</li><li>While the Army has long operated in <keyword id="20636" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Alaska">Alaska</keyword>, it's looking abroad to learn more about handling harsh conditions and tough terrain.</li></ul>In March, the Army became the latest military branch to release an Arctic strategy, titled "<a href="https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2021/03/15/9944046e/regaining-arctic-dominance-us-army-in-the-arctic-19-january-2021-unclassified.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regaining Arctic Dominance</a>," outlining how it will pursue the Defense Department's goal of defending US interests in that increasingly accessible region.The Army is still <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-army-figuring-out-whats-needed-to-regain-arctic-dominance-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">determining what materials, training, and infrastructure it will need</a>, and officials say it will also need to draw on the knowledge and experience of allies that operate in extreme cold weather, on mountainous terrain, and at high altitudes.This year's Arctic Warrior exercise, led by <keyword id="11057847" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="us-army-alaska">US Army Alaska</keyword>, reflected the new focus on operating in the region during "the coldest parts of the year," Maj. Gen. Peter Andrysiak, commander of US Army Alaska, told Insider in a March interview.<div type="image" title="Canadian army Chinook helicopter Alaska Arctic" height="1324" width="2000" msid="82279643" hostid="261"></div>That exercise included a Canadian aviation unit, and Canadian troops will participate in the upcoming Arctic Edge exercise in Alaska, a reflection of the two countries' longstanding defense ties."What we're trying to do as we move forward with this is expand our relationships with other allies and partners that have to operate in a similar environment," Andrysiak added, naming <keyword id="6356961" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="norway">Norway</keyword>, <keyword id="23050" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sweden">Sweden</keyword>, and Finland.As the Army focused on the Middle East over the past two decades, its relationships with European Arctic countries got less attention, but that will change, Andrysiak said at a press briefing in March."We've been given the green light to ... start working with other allies and partners, and that includes Norway and the other allies and partners up in that area," Andrysiak said at the briefing. "We know that there's a lot that we have to learn, because obviously Norway has a great history of being able to operate in and through that particular environment."As a NATO member, Norway has for decades worked with the US military, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marines-in-norway-face-language-differences-as-they-train-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">storing gear and hosting troops</a> for training.<div type="image" title="US Army Special Forces Sweden" height="1080" width="1920" msid="82279645" hostid="261"></div>Sweden and Finland are not in NATO but have worked more closely with the alliance amid recent tensions with Russia.Already in 2021, US soldiers <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/news/390170/kleber-soldiers-participate-finnish-armys-winter-combat-course" target="_blank" rel="noopener">participated</a> in a Finnish winter-combat course, and Army Green Berets took part in a Swedish <a href="https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2021/04/amerikanskt-specialforband-ovade-vinterstrid-i-norr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winter-warfare exercise</a>.The Army also sought feedback from foreign forces as it put together the Arctic strategy document."Within the Pentagon, we have a number of exchange officers and liaison officers, and we've been in contact with all of those, who've been offering some of the best practices ... and taking a look at drafts," Col. J.P. Clark, chief of the strategy division within the Army general staff, said at a separate March press conference."We have been able to incorporate some of our allies and partners in this in terms of the formulation, and we think that we'll build forces that can definitely train, operate, and fight alongside" those militaries, Clark added.<h2>'The million-dollar question'</h2><div type="image" title="Army Canada Arctic Baffin Island" height="1503" width="2000" msid="82279647" hostid="261"></div>Many of the Army forces permanently stationed in the Arctic or sub-Arctic are based in Alaska, but conditions differ between Arctic regions. Norway, for example, spans the same latitudes as northern <keyword id="6356687" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="canada">Canada</keyword> and Siberia but is more hospitable because of the <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111202091148.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gulf Stream</a>."A unit accustomed and optimized for Alaska operations might have some difficulties if suddenly deployed to the European Arctic," the Army's strategy says.How to ensure Army units can operate across those regions is "the million-dollar question," Andrysiak told Insider. "We've got to also better understand the environment and how the Arctic is different in those locations."The strategy says Arctic-capable units outside of the Arctic will be involved in planning in order "to identify appropriate mitigation measures" for those differences. Work with allies and partners in the Pacific "that have some degree of proficiency in this capability" will also continue, Andrysiak said.US Army Pacific, of which US Army Alaska is part, has directed Andrysiak's command to pursue more training with India, and US Army Alaska will soon assume responsibility for the bilateral exercise Yudh Abhyas.While Yudh Abhyas has been desert-focused, it will shift to "more of a mountainous scenario," Andrysiak told Insider.<div type="image" title="US India Army soldiers Alaska Yudh Abhyas" height="1363" width="2000" msid="82279648" hostid="261"></div>"This fall, they're going to come out to Alaska, and we're going to train with them, and then a year from that timeframe, we're going to go out to India and train in the Himalayas," Andrysiak said. "That's the mountainous aspect of the problem that we're trying to build capabilities in."For the most recent Yudh Abhyas, US soldiers from Washington state <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/news/389547/yudh-abhyas-concludes-with-strengthened-indo-us-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traveled</a> to northwest India for training that concluded in February. Indian soldiers have <a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/news/59322/indian-army-soldiers-qualify-range-exchanged-tactics-with-us-army-alaska-soldiers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traveled</a> to Alaska for previous iterations of Yudh Abhyas.India is working on its own <a href="https://science.thewire.in/environment/india-draft-arctic-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arctic strategy</a>, and after a deadly standoff with China along their disputed border in the Himalayas last year - the first in decades - India is also focusing more on mountain operations, adding <a href="https://www.ajaishukla.com/2021/01/armys-pivot-to-north.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a mountain strike corps</a> to bolster its defenses in an area where <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2020/06/tension-high-altitude-higher-logistical-and-physiological-constraints-on-the-indo-chinese-border/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">altitude and terrain</a> make any operation a challenge.The US military supported India during that standoff, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-intelligence-sharing-with-india-helps-monitor-chinese-military-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">providing intelligence</a> and cold-weather equipment. In so doing, the Army "gained understanding of the requirements to operate in places like the Himalayas," the strategy says."As we work to build or strengthen our alliances and partnerships with nations across the globe - to the Indo-Pacific and in the European Theater - we want to be able to share and learn lessons so that we can operate effectively in those environments but also they can operate effectively in those environments," Elizabeth Felling, a strategic planner in the Army general staff, said at the March press conference.

The US Army wants to regain 'dominance' in the Arctic, and it's looking all over the world for help

Travel means different things to different people. A short flight followed by a taxi transfer to a stylish resort with an inviting pool satisfies many people’s needs. But for those with time to spare and incurable wanderlust, there are plenty of exotic, hard-to-reach destinations that involve a lot more plan­ning than does a long weekend in Phuket. Mobile phone signals aren’t guaranteed in the following places but travel bragging rights definitely are. These destinations even come with their own superlatives. Even in a list of desolate destinations, Pitcairn Island wins by some distance. Best known as the 18th century hiding place of mutineers from the British ship HMS Bounty, no inhabited island is further from a mainland. The British Overseas Territory is barely more accessible today than it was in 1790. Anyone planning to visit from Hong Kong would need to fly to <keyword id="4741" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tokyo">Tokyo</keyword> for a connection to Papeete, in Tahiti, from where there are two four-hour flights a week to Mangareva, in the Gambier Islands. It’s then a 32-hour trip to Pitcairn aboard a supply boat that departs only every three months. A few years ago, officials launched a campaign to encourage people to join the isolated community. Only one person applied. The world’s coldest permanently settled area, Oymyakon shivers in the Siberian permafrost a two-day drive across the Russian <keyword id="101920" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tundra">tundra</keyword> from the nearest airport. Winter in the gold mining town is so frigid that drivers leave their car engines running all day to keep them from seizing up. Students are expected to attend classes unless the mercury falls below minus 52 degrees Celsius (-61.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and newly arrived visitors are reminded that saliva freezes in open mouths, glasses stick to faces and batteries last only a few minutes. Few crops survive in temperatures that can plummet to a bone-chilling minus 70 degrees and locals make do with reindeer meat, raw flesh shaved from frozen fish and ice cubes of horse blood with macaroni. Based on a year-round average temperature of 34.5 degrees Celsius (94.1 degrees Fahrenheit), the Danakil Depression is the hottest place on Earth. The inhospitable desert in northern <keyword id="61936" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ethiopia">Ethiopia</keyword> is also one of the lowest points on the planet, at 125 metres below sea level. Visitors need to tread carefully – the surreal landscape is littered with sulphur springs, geysers, acidic pools, huge salt pans, volcanoes and multicoloured mineral lakes. Amazingly, there is human activity at the “gateway to hell”. More than 700 officially registered salt miners toil in the furnace-like conditions for about US$7 per day. Located in the Bay of Bengal, more than 1,300km (807 miles) off the east coast of India, the Andaman Islands are the peaks of a submerged <keyword id="6439698" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="mountain">mountain</keyword> range. The tropical archipelago boasts pristine beaches, coral reefs and an abundance of wildlife. Of the 572 islands, only about 30 are inhabited, one of which is regarded as the most difficult place to set foot on as it’s home to the world’s most isolated tribe. North Sentinel Island gained notoriety last year when an American tourist was killed by bow and arrow-wielding Sentinelese warriors, having ignored warnings from fisherman not to go ashore. An out-of-the-way settlement in a hard-to-reach country, Ittoqqortoormiit is the remotest inhabited community in the western hemisphere. Weekly flights to this distant corner of Greenland require an onward helicopter transfer to the village, although for a month or two in summer, cruise ships are able to negotiate the ice­berg-infested waters. The 450 inhabitants rely on fishing and hunting (including an annual quota of 35 polar bears) for survival and let off steam by dog sledding and snowmobile camping trips along the banks of Scoresby Sund. The world’s longest fjord serves as a gateway to Northeast Greenland National Park, the world’s largest. The luxury resorts of the Maldives are easy enough to reach, usually with a sea­plane or speedboat transfer after a long-haul flight. For something more quirky, book a flight to Gan. From 1941 to 1976, the southernmost island in the archipelago served as a British Navy and <keyword id="113964" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Royal-Air-Force">Royal Air Force</keyword> base. Much of the military infrastructure remains, including the airfield, parade ground, a mildewing art deco cinema and rows of low-rise garrison buildings. The British also built a causeway linking Gan to three neighbouring islands – the resulting 18km (11-mile) road is the longest in the Maldives. The beguiling beauty of Wadi Rum feels older than time. For centuries only nomadic Bedouins were able to survive in the inhospitable desert, situated in the far south of Jordan, the safest country in the Middle East. Then along came charismatic British officer T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia), who led an Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire from Wadi Rum during the first world war. His description of the other­worldly desert formations and empty landscape as “vast, echoing and God-like” is as accurate today as it was a century ago. Gan, in the Maldives. Photo: Tim Pile The most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, volcanic <keyword id="1046045" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tristan-da-Cunha">Tristan da Cunha</keyword> lies 2,432km (1,511 miles) west of Cape Town. Another British Overseas Territory, the main island is home to 246 residents with nine different surnames. About 400km (249 miles) south and unin­habit­ed except for six weather station personnel, Gough Island is possib­ly the world’s least accessible world heritage site. Appropriately enough, it shares the Unesco designation with Inaccessible Island, 30km (19 miles) southwest of Tristan. The only way of reaching this far-flung South Atlantic bolt-hole is by ship from Cape Town – a seven-day sailing that operates nine times a year. More than six million tourists visited Grand Canyon National Park in 2018 but hidden away in the craggy sandstone formations lies the only village inside the canyon. Supai is the capital of the <keyword id="8232283" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Havasupai">Havasupai</keyword> Indian Reservation and the “people of the blue-green water” inhabit what has been described as the most remote community in the lower 48 states. Despite being just 13km (8 miles) from the nearest road, the only way to reach the settlement and stunning turquoise waterfalls is by helicopter, mule or on foot. Located 480km (298 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, Utqiagvik, <keyword id="20636" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alaska">Alaska</keyword>, is the northernmost town in the United States. When the sun sets in mid-November, it doesn’t rise again for 65 days. There are no roads in or out, so the Iñupiaq Eskimo settlement is accessible only by plane from Anchorage, or barge during the brief summer months. Locals still hunt and fish, but that’s partly because supermarket prices are among the highest in the world.

You Searched For "coldest winter india" and got 11 results

At 5.3 deg C, Delhi records season's coldest morning

PTI

New Delhi may face the coldest Sunday of November this week, according to the IMD

IANS

India's national capital sees its coldest November in 17 years with temperatures dipping to 6.3 degrees Celcius

PTI

Srinagar records minus 8.8 degrees, coldest night in 30 years

IANS

From Auli to Zuluk, 10 places in India where you can experience snowfall

Srishti Magan

Ten spine chilling pictures of India’s cold wave

BI India Bureau

Indian Army marks 4 decades of presence in Siachen glacier

PTI

I left Miami for a remote village in Pakistan. I have no running hot water and limited electricity but my quality of life here is infinitely better.

Samantha Shea

Delhi's minimum temperature to dip to 5 degrees on December 20, says IMD

IANS

The US Army wants to regain 'dominance' in the Arctic, and it's looking all over the world for help

Christopher Woody

12 of the most remote travel destinations on Earth, each with its own superlative

SCMP

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