Kashmir freezes at sub-zero temperatures, cold intensifies

Srinagar: Cold wave tightened its grip further in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region as minimum temperatures in most places dipped several degrees below the freezing point.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, over two degrees down from the previous night's minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, a MeT department official said here.

The minimum temperature in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir, went over four degrees down from the previous night's minus 7.7 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 12.4 degrees Celsius last night.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg registered a low of minus 9.8 degrees Celsius, as against the previous night's minus 11.6 degrees Celsius.

The official said the minimum temperature in Qazigund- the gateway town to Kashmir valley - decreased by over four degrees to settle at minus 8.0 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 3.8 degrees Celsius the previous night.

Kokernag, in south, recorded a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, down by over four degrees from minus 6.3 degrees Celsius the previous night, he said. The minimum in Kupwara, in north Kashmir, settled at minus 2.8 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night's minus 0.8 degree Celsius. Leh, in Ladakh region, recorded a low of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius against the previous night's minus 14.7 degrees Celsius.

The mercury in Kargil settled at a low of minus 16.1 degrees Celsius, over three degrees down from minus 13.0 degrees Celsius the previous night. The MeT department has said the weather would remain mainly dry over the next few days and there would be a further dip in the mercury making the conditions in the valley colder.