At minus 23.6°C, Kargil in J&K records season's lowest temperature

The intense cold wave sweeping north India tightened its grip over Jammu and Kashmir as Drass and Kargil in Ladakh region recorded bone-chilling night temperature of minus 33.5 and 23.6 degrees Celsius respectively - lowest so far in the state this season.

Leh was the second coldest town in the state with the minimum temperature recorded at minus 17 degrees Celsius.

Weather department has predicted that the cold wave conditions will continue in the Valley and the Ladakh region for at least another three to four days. Many water bodies, including the Dal Lake in Srinagar, have partially frozen due to the intense cold wave.

The night temperature in Srinagar slipped to the season's lowest at -6.2 degrees Celsius, a MeT department official said.

This was the third straight night when the minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at -6.0 degres Celsius or below.

The Kashmir valley is witnessing the 40-day long harsh winter cold known the 'Chillai Kalan" which will end on January 30.

Pahalgam recorded minus 7.5 and Gulmarg minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.

Biting cold conditions persisted in parts of Himachal Pradesh. The high-altitude tribal areas groaned as the minimum temperature in the hills ranged between minus 13 degrees Celsius and minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Keylong and Kalpa, in tribal Lahaul and Spiti, and Kinnaur recorded a low of minus 7.2 degrees Celsius and minus 3.4 degrees Celsius respectively.