Mercury plummets in Kashmir valley

Srinagar, February 8

The minimum temperature in Srinagar once again plunged below the freezing point as cold wave tightened its grip over the Valley and the Ladakh region.

Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.8 degree Celsius, down by over three notches from the previous night’s 2.5 degree Celsius, an official of the Meteorological Department said here today.

The official said Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra during the summer, recorded a low of minus 3.7 degree Celsius, a decrease of nearly four notches from the previous night’s 0.1 degree Celsius.

Mercury also decreased in the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settling at a low of minus 3 degree Celsius against the previous night’s minus 1.8 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature in Qazigund, the gateway town to the Kashmir valley, remained same as that of the previous night’s 0.2 degree Celsius.

The north Kashmir town of Kupwara recorded a low of minus 1.7 degree Celsius, compared to 1.8 degree Celsius the previous night, the official said.

Kokernag in south Kashmir registered a drop of two degrees with the mercury settling at a low of 0.3 degree Celsius.

The minimum temperature in Kargil town of the Ladakh region went down over two degree from the previous night’s minus 7.2 degree Celsius to settle at a low of minus 9.4 degree Celsius.

Kargil was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir, said the official.

The nearby Leh town recorded a low of minus 8.4 degree Celsius.

The official said the weather was likely to remain dry over the two days from today.

However, there is possibility of light to moderate snowfall, especially in the higher reaches, for a few days from February 10, the official added. — PTI