Cold wave intensify in Kashmir, Leh records minus 20.2 deg C

The mercury plunged by seven degrees in Leh town of Ladakh region last night to settle at a minimum of minus 20.2 degrees Celsius compared to yesterday's low of minus 13 deg C, a MeT department official said.

He said the minimum temperature in nearby Kargil town also dipped by 2.8 degrees last night to settle at minus 15.8 degrees Celsius.

In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the night temperature dipped by more than two degrees and settled at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius. The city had recorded minus 0.1 degrees C yesterday.

The famous hill resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir was the coldest place in the Valley, recording a low of minus 11.7 degrees C, which was 2.7 degrees lower than yesterday.

Gulmarg, a skiing resort in north Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 11 degrees C, which was 3.3 notches down from yesterday, the official said. The high altitude areas of the Valley, including Pahalgam and Gulmarg, received light snowfall over the weekend but clear skies last night resulted in a sharp dip in minimum temperature across the Valley.

The night temperature at Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, fell further to settle at minus 6 deg C -- four notches less than yesterday. Kokernag town in south Kashmir's Anantnag district recorded minus 3.9 degrees C.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir, recorded a night temperature of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius. The Kashmir Valley is in the grip of an intense cold wave as it witnesses forty days of harsh winter, locally called 'Chillai Kalaan'.

The Disaster Management Cell has predicted snowfall beginning January 12 for over four days. While Kashmir witnessed early snowfall of winter in October, there was a two-month dry spell which ended with another snowfall on New Year's eve.