Severe cold continues to grip J-K, Ladakh

Severe cold wave conditions gripped Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after recent snowfall with the meteorological department forecasting fairly widespread rains and snow in J-K and at isolated places in Ladakh in the next two days.

The night temperature in most parts of the two Union territories saw a dip, with Drass belt of Ladakh recording the lowest temperature of minus 16.1 degrees Celsius, while Banihal belt in Jammu region was the coldest area in the region at minus 1.5 degrees Celsius and Kashmir's Gulmarg belt registering minus 6.5 degrees Celsius.

Jammu city registered a low of 8.2 degrees Celsius -- 2.4 notches below normal, a meteorological department official said.

Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, registered a night temperature of 5 degrees Celsius, up from the previous night's 4.6 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius against the previous night's minus 2.3 degrees Celsius, while the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest place in the valley with a minimum of 6.5 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir was freezing at minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, the official said.