Drass Records Coldest Temperature at -24.6°C as Severe Cold Wave Grips Kashmir and Ladakh

SRINAGAR/LADAKH, January 10,2026: The relentless “Chillai-Kalan” has tightened its icy grip over the region, with Drass in Ladakh recording the season’s coldest temperature at a bone-chilling -24.6°C.

Across the Kashmir Valley and Jammu division, a severe cold wave has seen mercury levels plummeting significantly below the freezing point, causing water bodies like the Dal Lake to partially freeze.

Shopian and Pulwama emerged as the coldest spots in the Valley, recording lows of -8.2°C and -8.0°C, while the summer capital Srinagar shivered at -5.7°C.

Even the Jammu region felt the winter’s bite, with Samba and Rajouri dipping to -1.6°C and Udhampur hovering near freezing at 0.2°C.

With Ladakh’s Nyoma (-20.3°C) and Padum (-19.6°C) also witnessing extreme lows, the Meteorological Department predicts these sub-zero conditions will persist, urging residents to remain cautious during this peak winter phase.