Cold conditions continue in Kashmir valley

Cold conditions continued in Kashmir valley and Ladakh region as the minimum temperature in most parts dropped by several degrees with the mercury in Kargil town settling 23 degrees below the freezing point.

Kargil, in Ladakh region, continued to be the coldest place in Jammu & Kash

mir as the mercury settled at a low of minus 23.0 degrees celsius as compared to minus 21.8 degrees celsius the previous night, an official of the Met department here said.

The town had recorded the season's coldest night at minus 23.4 degrees celsius on Tuesday.

Nearby Leh town registered a low of minus 15 degrees celsius as against minus 15.9 degrees celsius the previous night.

Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, witnessed a drop of two degrees as the minimum temperature fell to minus 4.0 degrees celsius on Wednesday night.

Mercury in Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, which serves as base camp during annual Amarnath yatra, settled at minus 11.6 degrees celsius as compared to minus 12.4 degrees celsius the previous night.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 11.0 degrees celsius as against the previous night's minus 10.8 degrees celsius.

Mercury in Qazigund — the gateway town to Kashmir valley — dipped by almost four degrees to settle at minus 5.7 degrees celsius, as against the previous night's minus 1.8 degrees celsius.

Kokernag and Kupwara towns registered minimum temperatures of minus 5.0 degrees celsius and minus 4.0 degrees celsius respectively, the official said.

The day temperature in the valley has started improving as the sun shone brightly for third consecutive dayon Thursday. The Met department has said there is a possibility of rainfall for two days from Friday.