Cold wave to continue in Jammu and Kashmir

The minimum temperature in Srinagar and other places in the Kashmir Valley remained below freezing point Saturday and according to the Met Office, there would be no respite from the intense cold wave in coming days.

"The weather is likely to remain dry Sunday. The cold wave conditions would continue in Jammu and Kashmir," a Met official told IANS here.

"Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 3.5 degrees Celsius today (Saturday) which is five notches below the season's average," he said.

Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg recorded minus 3.1 degrees Celsius and Pahalgam was minus 6.6 degrees Celsius.

"Leh town in Ladakh region recorded a minimum temperature of minus 16.2 degrees Celsius, while Kargil town recorded a minimum temperature of minus 16 degrees Celsius," the official said.

Despite the intense cold wave that has been sweeping the Valley since the beginning of 40-day-long period of harsh winter known as 'Chillai Kalan' started Dec 21, Kashmir has not received good snowfall this season, although a scanty snowfall occurred in Gulmarg last week.