SRINAGAR, Jan 19: A relentless cold wave has tightened its grip across the northern frontier, with 38 key locations across the Kashmir Valley, Jammu division, and Ladakh recording freezing temperatures today.
In the Kashmir Region, sub-zero conditions were universal across 21 stations; Sonamarg led the plummet at -8.3°C, followed by extreme chills in Pulwama (-5.1°C), Shopian (-4.7°C), and Awantipora (-4.2°C).
The traditional tourist hubs were not spared, as Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded -3.5°C and -1.8°C respectively, while the capital Srinagar saw the mercury dip to -1.2°C. Other affected areas included Pampore (-4.0°C), Sopore (-3.0°C), and Qazigund (-2.4°C), highlighting a widespread territorial freeze.
The Jammu Region displayed a sharp climatic divide across its 13 recorded stations, where urban centers remained above freezing while hilly districts faced a significant chill.
While Jammu Airport was the warmest at 8.2°C, temperatures in Bhaderwah dropped to -0.5°C. Near-freezing conditions were also observed in Udhampur (0.4°C), Banihal (0.7°C), and Samba (1.2°C).
Meanwhile, the Ladakh region remains the coldest territory in the country; all 4 monitored locations reported severe readings, headlined by Hanle at a staggering -14.5°C.
With Leh at -8.0°C and Kargil at -6.6°C, the high-altitude desert continues to endure peak winter severity as the regional administration monitors the impact on essential services.
