The intervening night of Thursday and Friday brought bone-chilling cold across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, with temperatures dipping to extreme lows in several areas.
Kashmir experienced a significant drop in temperatures during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, with several places recording sub-zero temperatures.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of -3.3°C, while nearby Qazigund registered -2.5°C.
The tourist destinations of Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded some of the lowest temperatures, with Pahalgam at -7.0°C and Gulmarg plunging to -8.5°C. Sonamarg was even colder, with the mercury dipping to -9.8°C, while Zojila recorded an extreme low of -28.0°C, making it the coldest location in the region.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of -4.0°C, and Kokernag in south Kashmir was slightly warmer at -1.5°C. In central Kashmir, Budgam recorded -4.2°C, Ganderbal -2.9°C, and Pulwama in south Kashmir registered -4.3°C.
Other areas in south Kashmir, such as Anantnag and Kulgam, recorded minimum temperatures of -3.7°C and -3.0°C, respectively.
Khudwani reported a low of -4.9°C, while Shopian and Larnoo recorded -4.7°C and -5.1°C, respectively. Baramulla in north Kashmir registered -2.2°C, and Bandipora saw the temperature fall to -3.7°C.
The freezing temperatures across Kashmir indicate the intensifying winter as the region braces for harsher weather in the coming weeks.
In Jammu, temperatures were relatively mild, with Jammu city recording 6.1°C. However, places like Padder (-4.4°C) and Bhaderwah (0.5°C) saw harsher conditions.
Ladakh experienced severe cold, with Leh and Kargil both recording -11.8°C. Drass, known as one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth, recorded an extreme -22.4°C.
The sharp drop in temperatures highlights the onset of harsher winter conditions, impacting daily life and travel across the region.