Islamabad: Freezing weather continued to prevail in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as a severe cold wave affected the Valley and Ladakh regions, where minimum temperatures in most areas remained below zero.
Shopian emerged as the coldest location in the Kashmir Valley, recording a minimum temperature of minus 8.2°C, followed by Pulwama at minus 8.0°C and Pahalgam at minus 7.8°C.
Srinagar city registered a low of minus 5.7°C, while temperatures at Srinagar airport dropped further to minus 7.2°C. Other areas of the Valley also endured intense cold, with Sopore recording minus 7.6°C, Awantipora and Islamabad minus 7.0°C each, Gulmarg minus 6.8°C, and Kupwara and Budgam registering minus 6.1°C. Kokernag was relatively warmer, with a minimum temperature of minus 4.0°C.
In the Jammu region, temperatures were relatively higher, though some hilly areas still experienced freezing conditions.
Ladakh recorded the lowest temperatures, with Drass, the second coldest inhabited place in the world, registering a minimum of minus 24.6°C. Nyoma recorded minus 20.3°C, Padum minus 19.6°C, and Hanle minus 17.0°C. Leh saw a low of minus 14.4°C, while Kargil recorded minus 13.7°C.
Meteorological officials have warned that the cold wave is expected to continue over the coming days, particularly during night and early morning hours.