Srinagar: Intense cold conditions prevailed in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with Gulmarg, the world-famous skiing resort, being the coldest place in the Kashmir Valley.
A meteorological department official said that the minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of JK, settled at minus 2.7°C, up by one degree Celsius from last night but minus 0.6°C below normal for this time of the year.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started on December 21.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 11.0°C against minus 11.5°C on the previous night, he said. The temperature was minus 3.1°C below normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 9.4°C against minus 11.6°C last night, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 5.8°C against minus 5.3°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.1°C against minus 7.2°C on the previous night, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 2.5°C against minus 5.5°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu recorded a low of 5.5°C against the previous night’s 5.8°C which is minus 1.5°C below normal for the JK’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of minus 1.0°C, Katra 5.5°C, and Bhaderwah saw a minimum of minus 2.7°C, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 15.5°C against last night’s minus 13.9°C while the mercury in Kargil settled at minus 16.9°C.
Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 21.9°C against last night’s minus 21.9°C, the official said.
Meanwhile, the weatherman has forecast dry weather at most places in Jammu and Kashmir till January 16.
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