Mercury settles in Srinagar at minus 4.5 degrees celsius
TDD Correspondent
Srinagar, TDD ,The cold wave gripping Jammu and Kashmir intensified as minimum temperatures plunged across the region, with Zojila recording an extreme low of -23.0°C today.
In Kashmir, Shopian emerged as the coldest spot, freezing at -7.8°C, followed closely by Sonamarg at -7.7°C and Pulwama at -7.3°C. Tourist destinations like Pahalgam and Gulmarg also experienced bone-chilling weather, with Pahalgam dropping to -5.8°C, while Gulmarg’s temperature was not recorded.
Other notable lows include Srinagar at -4.5°C, Qazigund at -5.0°C Anantnag at -6.9°C, indicating widespread frost in the valley.
The cold wave extended to the Jammu region, where temperatures dropped significantly in high-altitude areas. Padder recorded a biting -6.2°C, while Bhaderwah and Banihal shivered at -0.4°C and -1.9°C, respectively. The winter capital, Jammu, saw a relatively milder 8.1°C, while Katra recorded 7.6°C.
In Ladakh, the chill was even more intense, with Kargil and Leh recording lows of -10.9°C and -10.0°C, respectively, as the region braces for harsher weather in the coming weeks.
The plunging temperatures have disrupted daily life across the valley, with frost affecting roads and water supplies. Locals have been urged to take precautions as the Meteorological Department forecasts dry weather over the next few days, likely exacerbating the cold conditions.
The frigid temperatures have also drawn tourists to scenic snow-clad destinations like Sonamarg and Gulmarg, providing a silver lining for the region’s tourism industry despite the biting cold (TDD)