Srinagar/Dec,31: Severe cold wave continue to grip Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, with temperatures dipping to sub-Zero, while Srinagar shivers at minus 3.5°C, Gulmarg at -11°C.
A meteorological department official said that, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -3.5°C, while Qazigund registered -7.5°C, and Pahalgam plunged to -8.4°C. Kupwara was relatively warmer at 0.1°C, while Kokernag saw -5.6°C.
Top tourist destination Gulmarg and Sonamarg recorded -11.5°C and -7.4°C, respectively. Other areas in Kashmir include Bandipora (-0.6°C), Baramulla -4.0°C, Budgam -4.4°C, Ganderbal -3.4°C, Pulwama -6.8°C, Anantnag -8.3°C, Khudwani -8.2°C, Kulgam -7.6°C, Shopian -9.1°C, and Larnoo -11.8°C, he said.
Jammu recorded a minimum of 7.1°C, while Banihal registered -2.3°C, and Batote saw 1.5°C. Katra recorded 5.0°C, Bhaderwah -1.4°C, Kishtwar 3.6°C, and Padder -2.6°C. Other areas included Ramban 6.7°C, Poonch 3.0°C, Rajouri 3.1°C, Samba 7.2°C, Kathua 9.0°C, Reasi 7.2°C, and Udhampur 4.5°C, official said.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded -11.0°C, Kargil saw -14.0°C, and Drass plunged to -18.4°C.
The biting cold has intensified across the region, with authorities urging residents to take precautions to stay safe during this harsh winter, while drivers were urged to drive carefully as Kashmir received heavy snowfall in past 2 days
