Intense cold conditions in Kashmir Valley

Kashmir reeled under intense cold conditions on Monday as the minimum temperature stayed several degreesbelow freezing pointacross the valley, the MET Office said on Monday.

A MET official saidthe freezing temperatures led to development of a layer of frost on roads which caused inconvenience to people especially to motorists but bright sunshine later in the day eased the situation.

Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.4 degree Celsius nearly a degree down from Sunday's minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.

He said the mercury in Qazigund the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 5 degrees Celsius, same as last night.

Pahalgam tourist resort in south recorded a low of minus 9 degrees Celsius up from minus 13.7 degrees Celsius yesterday, the official said, adding the resort was the coldest recorded palce in the Kashmir valley.

The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 12.8 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature in Kokernag, in south, settled at a low of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara, in north, recorded a low of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius, the official added.

The MET Office has forecast scattered to widespread light to moderate rain or snow in the valley over the next two days.