Drass goes Arctic at minus 19.5

Srinagar, Dec 25:An unabated cold wave continued in Kashmir on Tuesday as well with the Meteorological department denying any possibility of rain or snow in the region till New Year.

There was no relief from the severe cold that has been lashing the valley for a fortnight with minimum temperatures reaching minus 5.5 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, minus 7.7 in Pahalgam and minus 7.6 in Gulmarg.

At minus 19.5 degrees Celsius, Drass in Kargil was the coldest place in the state. The town remained literally frozen as even the maximum temperatures in it remained below freezing point.

Leh recorded minus 10 and Kargil minus 14.2 as minimum temperatureson Tuesday.

Jammu was a bit mild at 4.1, Katra 5 however mercury in Batote, Banihal and Bhaderwah remained below freezing point.