Kargil freezes at -17, rain, snow forecast in Kashmir

, Feb 14: Ladakh's Kargil town was the coldest place in

at minus 16.8 degrees on Thursday and Kashmir Valley is expected to receive light rain and snowfall during the next 24 hours, the Met Office said on Friday.

Met Office director Sonam Lotus told IANS on Friday: "There has been light snowfall in Leh town during the night and we are expecting very light snowfall during the next 24 hours at places in the Kashmir Valley."

"Rainfall is expected in the Jammu region during the next 24 hours. The weather is likely to improve after this period," Lotus said.

The minimum temperature was minus 0.2 degree Celsius in Srinagar, minus 8.4 in Gulmarg, minus 5.7 in Pahalgam and 9 degrees in Jammu city on Friday.

Leh town in Ladakh region recorded the temperature of minus 6.9 degrees Celsius.

The weather conditions in the state improved after the 40-day harsh period of winter, called the Chilla Kalan, ended Jan 31.

With water bodies no longer frozen, migratory birds are wading and swimming in these like athletes.

IANS