Mercury stays below freezing point across Kashmir, Ladakh

Mercury stayed below freezing point across KashmirValley and Ladakh region though there was marginal rise in minimum temperature in most places owing to overcast sky.
Leh, in the frontier region of Ladakh, was the coldest in Jammu and Kashmir as the mercury theresettled at minus 9.7 degrees Celsius, though slightlyup from the previous night's minus 9.9 degrees Celsius, aspokesman of the Meteorological Department said here today.
He said the minimum temperature in the nearby Kargil town also increased from yesterday's minus 10.3 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 9.6 degrees Celsius.
Srinagar - the summer capital of the state - recorded the minimum temperature of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, slightlyup from yesterday's minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, the spokesmansaid.

The city had yesterday experienced the coldest night of thewinter so far.
The minimum temperature in Kokernag, in south Kashmir, settled at minus 0.2 degree Celsius, while the mercury in Qazigund - the gateway town to Kashmir Valley - registered a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, he said, adding the night temperature at both the places increased as compared to the previous night.

He said Kupwara, in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius.
The tourist resort of Pahalgam - which serves as abase camp during the annual Amarnath Yatra - recorded a low of minus 3.9 degrees Celsius as compared to the previous night's minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

He said the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, in north Kashmir, registered minimum temperature of minus 2.8 degrees Celsiusas against the low of minus 2.0 degrees Celsius yesterday.
Minister for Public Works Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari
held a video conference with Deputy Commissioners of the Valley last evening and took stock of winter preparedness, stock position and power supply.
The Minister was informed that 34 snow clearance machines were on stand-by mode in Srinagar city for clearing the snow from roads.
A total of 111 snow clearance machines have been deployed for the entire Valley with a provision of bringing 14 more such machines for ensuring the opening of roads within a minimum possible time, an official spokesman said.

He said the Minister asked the officials to undertake snow clearance during night hours so that people wake up to clear roads.
While reviewing the stock position in the Valley, the Minister was informed there is a food stock of 36 days and LPG stock of 15 days available in the Valley, the spokesman said.