Intense cold in Jammu and Kashmir

Night temperatures in Kashmir valley and Ladakh region of the Jammu and Kashmir state continued to remain below the freezing point Monday, Leh town recording the minimum temperature of minus 15.6 degrees Celsius.

"Leh town recorded minus 15.6 as the minimum temperature today (Monday)," a meteorological department official said here.

The minimum temperature was minus 2.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, minus 4.2 in Gulmarg, minus 6 in Pahalgam, and minus 13.4 in Kargil town.

"Jammu city recorded 6.4 degrees. Among other major towns of the Jammu region, Banihal recorded 0.5, Batote 2.9, Katra 7.8, and Bhaderwah town minus 0.9 degrees as the minimum temperature," he said.

The official said rain and snow is expected in the Kashmir valley and the higher reaches of the Jammu region from Jan 21 afternoon.

"We are expecting rain and snowfall in the valley and the higher reaches of the Jammu region from the afternoon of January 21."

"There is a fair chance of snowfall in the valley on January 22 as the western disturbance, likely to pass over Jammu and Kashmir, would show maximum activity on January 22 after which it is expected to weaken," the official added.

Western disturbance is an extra tropical storm system in the Mediterranean Sea that causes rain and snowfall in India, Pakistan, Nepal and the Himalayan region.

Kashmir is passing through an alarmingly extended spell of dry weather. The maximum snowfall that replenishes the perennial water reservoirs of the state occurs during the 40-day period of harsh winter known as the 'Chillai Kalan' that begins Dec 21 and ends Jan 31.

In comparison to last year when Kashmir received three major snowfalls, Chillai has so far passed without any snowfall in the valley.

A scanty three-inch snowfall, however, occurred in Gulmarg last week, but that according to experts is less than a drop in the ocean, given the water requirements of the state during summer.