Srinagar, Kargil record lowest temperatures of season

Jammu and Kashmir summer capital Srinagar experienced its coldest night Sunday at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius. Kargil town in Ladakh region was the the coldest in the state at minus 18.9 degrees Celsius.

"Srinagar recorded the lowest temperature of the season at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius. Kargil also recorded the coldest night at minus 18.9 degrees, which is the lowest in the state and also the lowest this season in Kargil town. Leh town recorded a minimum temperature of minus 17.7, while Gulmarg recorded minus 10.2 and Pahalgam minus 9.0," Sonam Lotus, director of the met office here, said Monday.

"The minimum temperature was 3.2 degrees Celsius in Jammu city today, which is five degrees below normal (average)," Lotus said.

Lotus said snow or rain is expected in the Valley and the Ladakh region on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The weather office has issued an advisory, warning locals of isolated heavy snowfall on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Reports from the cold desert Ladakh region said the place was literally frozen with locals not venturing out, because of extreme cold.

"The region is literally frozen rock solid," Feroze Ahmad, a resident of Leh town, told IANS over the phone.