Kashmir shivers as mercury stays way below freezing point

A bright sunny day and rise in night temperature brought some respite from cold in most parts of the northern India except Kashmir valley where the mercury dipped further.

Delhi witnessed a pleasant morning as the minimum temperature settled at 10.6 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal. The general visibility was recorded at 1,000 metres.

The weatherman has predicted partly cloudy sky afternoon onwards, with possibility of shallow fog on Wednesday morning.

In Rajasthan, there was a rise in night temperatures in most parts of the state, where the lowest was recorded in Churu at 5.8 degrees Celsius.

According to MeT department, Sikar recorded a minimum of 6 deg C, Sriganganagar 8.4 deg C, Bikaner 9.6 deg C, state capital Jaipur 10 deg C and Ajmer 11.5 degree Celsius.

Cold wave tightened its grip across Kashmir valley as the minimum temperature dropped at most places.

Leh was the coldest recorded area at minus 11.8 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature recorded in Srinagar was minus 3.7 degrees Celsius against Monday's minus 2.7 degrees Celsius, a MET office spokesman said.

The famous ski resort of Gulmarg, a major attraction for tourists visiting the valley during winter, was the coldest recorded place in the valley with a low of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius against Monday's minus 5.4 degrees Celsius.

Kargil, also in the cold desert of Ladakh, registered a minimum of minus 10.2 degrees Celsius, making it the second coldest place in the state, the spokesman said.

The minimum temperature dropped several degrees in Pahalgam hill resort to settle at minus 6.4 degrees Celsius against Monday's minus 2.9 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature in north Kashmir town of Kupwara was minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, while the southern Kokernag resort recorded a low of minus 0.9 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir along Srinagar-Jammu national highway, registered a minimum of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius.

As the sun shone brightly for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, the chances of snowfall or rains have further reduced.

Himachal Pradesh also witnessed a clear sky. Capital Shimla witnessed a minimum temperature of 8 degrees Celsius, which was about 3 degrees above normal for this time of the season.

Nahan recorded a low of 10.1 degrees Celsius while the lowest temperature in higher hill reaches of Kalpa was at zero degree Celsius. Usually temperature remains around minus four to five degrees Celsius here at this time of the season.