Mercury crashes across Kashmir, Ladakh
Srinagar, Dec 10: Kashmir reeled under intense cold Tuesday night as minimum temperatures fell well below the freezing point across most stations, with ski-resort Gulmarg emerging as the coldest inhabited location at minus 5.5 degrees Celsius.
The lowest temperature was reported at Zojila Pass, in Ladakh, where the mercury dropped to minus 18 degrees Celsius.
According to data compiled by Kashmir Weather, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.9 degrees Celsius, while areas on the outskirts, including Srinagar Airport, dipped further to minus 3.6 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund settled at minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag at minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, Pampore at minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, and Budgam at minus 3 degrees Celsius.
In south Kashmir, Anantnag and Bandipora both logged minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, while Pulwama and Shopian recorded minus 3.7 degrees Celsius and minus 4.3 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam slipped to minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, and Sonamarg recorded minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.
In north Kashmir, Kupwara touched minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, Baramulla minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, and Zethan Rafiabad minus 4.8 degrees Celsius.
Only a few pockets, including Kulgam (minus 0.6 degrees Celsius) and Ganderbal (minus 0.9 degrees Celsius), saw slightly less severe conditions, though both remained below freezing.
In the Jammu division, temperatures stayed significantly higher.
Jammu city recorded 8.4 degrees Celsius and Katra 9.5 degrees Celsius, while Batote and Doda settled at 6.5 degrees Celsius.
Samba dipped to 3.3 degrees Celsius, Rajouri to 2 degrees Celsius, and Bhaderwah to a chilly 0.8 degrees Celsius.
Udhampur and Banihal noted lows of 4.8 degrees Celsius and 5.4 degrees Celsius.
The cold desert region of Ladakh also reported severe temperatures, with Leh at minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, Kargil at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, and the Nubra Valley at minus 2.5 degrees Celsius.
Meteorologists said the cold wave across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is likely to intensify in the coming days as no major weather system is expected to bring immediate relief.
