Kashmir, Ladakh still in grip of intense cold

The intense cold wave conditions continued across Jammu and Kashmir Monday as the minimum temperatures remained much below the freezing point in the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region.

"The minimum temperatures across the valley and the Ladakh region remained much below the freezing point as the cold wave conditions continued unabated," an official of the local meteorological office told IANS here.

"Srinagar recorded minus 3.1, Gulmarg minus 0.6, Pahalgam minus 4.8 and Jammu 5 degrees Celsius as their minimum temperatures today," he said.

"Leh town recorded minus 14.2 as the minimum. We are expecting light rain and snow in the valley during the next 24 hours," he added.

Kashmir has not received snowfall this season so far, a development that has become a cause of worry for farmers in general and the common man in particular.

All the perennial water reservoirs of Kashmir get replenished by snowfall during the winter months.

Scanty or no snowfall during these months leads to problems of irrigation and drinking water supply during the summer months.