Cold wave tightens its grip on Kashmir Valley

Srinagar: Cold wave conditions further tightened its grip on the Kashmir Valley as the night temperatures dropped considerably, while the upper reaches of Gulmarg and Pahalgam resorts received fresh snowfall.

"Around 1.2 cms of snowfall was recorded in Gulmarg, while Pahalgam received a snowfall of 1.6 cms last night," a MeT Department official said here. The minimum temperature in Srinagar registered a decrease of almost three degrees to settle at minus 3 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night`s minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, the official said. The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a drop of over four degrees in the minimum temperature as the mercury settled at a low of minus 7 degrees Celsius against the minus 2.6 degrees Celsius the previous night. Pahalgam hill resort, which serves as a base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, also registered a decrease of over four degrees in the night temperature as the minimum settled at minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, compared to the previous night`s minus 2.6 degrees Celsius. The night temperature in Qazigund - the gateway town to Kashmir Valley plummeted over six degrees from the previous night`s low of 1.8 degrees Celsius, to settle at a low of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius. Kokernag, in south Kashmir, which recorded a low of 1.0 degree Celsius the previous night, registered a decrease of over four degrees in the minimum temperature to settle at minus 4.1 degrees Celsius. Kupwara, in north Kashmir, recorded a dip of over two degrees in the night temperature as the mercury settled at minus 5.2 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night`s minus 3.0 degrees Celsius, the official said. The minimum temperature in Leh, in the frontier region of Ladakh, increased by a degree to settle at minus 11.2 degrees Celsius, the official said. He said the nearby Kargil town also registered a low of minus 12.2 degrees Celsius, making the twin towns the coldest recorded places in the state. The weather office has said there would be an increase in precipitation from tomorrow onward.