Mercury continues to dip in Kashmir Valley

Minimum temperatures in the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region on Tuesday fell several notches below the freezing point. The free fall of night temperatures is likely to continue.

A weather department official told IANS that the minimum temperature was minus 0.3 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, minus 7.5 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam and minus 8.8 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg.

The minimum temperature was minus 14 degrees Celsius in Leh while it was minus 11.4 degrees Celsius in Kargil town in Ladakh region. Leh was the coldest place in the state on Tuesday.

In Jammu region, the minimum temperature was 5.6 degrees Celsius in Jammu city, 6.7 degrees Celsius in Katra town and 2 degrees Celsius in Batote.

In Bannihal, the minimum temperature was 2.7 degrees Celsius while it was minus 1.5 degrees Celsius in Bhaderwah.

The free fall of mercury in the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region was worrisome for people as the traditional 40-day period of extreme cold that is known as the 'Chillai Kalan' is still six days away.

"Given the biting cold ahead of 'Chillai Kalan', I fear this winter is likely to be unusually cold," said Ghulam Muhammad Rather, 50, a resident of Kashmir's Ganderbal district.