SRINAGAR: Cold conditions continued to prevail across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday, with several places in the Kashmir Valley recording sub-zero minimum temperatures, officials said.
Sonamarg emerged as the coldest place in the Kashmir region, registering a minimum temperature of minus 8.3 degrees Celsius. The ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam settled at minus 1.8 degrees Celsius.
In Srinagar, the minimum temperature stood at minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, while the airport area experienced a sharper dip at minus 3.8 degrees Celsius. Other parts of the Valley also witnessed freezing conditions, with Pulwama recording minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, Shopian minus 4.7, Anantnag minus 3.9, and Awantipora minus 4.2 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara and Budgam recorded minimum temperatures of minus 1.6 and minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, respectively, while Baramulla and Bandipora both settled at minus 1.4 degrees Celsius. Pampore recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, and Sopore minus 3.0 degrees Celsius.
Relatively higher minimum temperatures were recorded in Kokernag at minus 0.4 degrees Celsius and Ganderbal at minus 0.7 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, minimum temperatures remained largely above the freezing point. Jammu city recorded a low of 7.3 degrees Celsius, while Jammu airport registered 8.2 degrees Celsius. Banihal recorded 0.7 degrees Celsius, while Bhaderwah dipped slightly below freezing at minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Ladakh continued to experience severe cold conditions. Hanle recorded the lowest temperature in the region at minus 14.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Leh at minus 8.0 degrees Celsius and Kargil at minus 6.6 degrees Celsius.
The Meteorological Department has forecast the continuation of cold weather conditions across the region over the next few days.
