Leh remains coldest at minus 23 deg C, cold wave intensifies

SRINAGAR: The cold wave in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, intensified today with Leh recording a minimum temperature of minus 23 degrees Celsius for the second consecutive night, officials said here.

The mercury in Leh town in Ladakh region stayed at minus 23 degrees Celsius, a day after recording the coldest night of the season at minus 23.6 degrees Celsius, a MeT department official said.

Kargil town also witnessed extremely cold night with a minimum temperature of minus 18.2 degrees Celsius.

The cold wave has also intensified in Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir and Pahalgam health resort in south Kashmir. Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 12.4 degrees Celsius, while in Gulmarg the mercury dipped to minus 11.7 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir valley near the Jawahar tunnel, was freezing at a low of minus 10.4 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag town in Anantnag district witnessed a night temperature of minus 9.1 degrees Celsius.

In Srinagar city, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the minimum temperature fell by nearly three degrees to settle at a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius. The city yesterday recorded a temperature of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.

With no downpour forecast for the day today, the cold wave in Kashmir division, which includes Ladakh region also, is likely to intensify.