Kashmir Valley freezes ahead of polls

Srinagar, Nov 18: The mercury dropped several notches below zero in the Ladakh region while the night was freezing in Jammu and Kashmir summer capital Srinagar.

"The minimum temperature was minus 0.3 degrees Celsius in Srinagar today (Tuesday). It was minus 3.6 in Pahalgam and minus 2.0 in Gulmarg," Sonam Lotus, director of the local weather office, told IANS in Srinagar.

"The minimum temperature dropped to minus 9.2 (degrees Celsius) in Kargil and minus 10 in Leh town. Jammu recorded a minimum night temperature of 9.1 today."

Lotus said since dry weather is likely to continue in the state during the next five days, night temperatures would drop further.

Lotus also said the chilly weather and winter has set in early in the Valley this year because of unprecedented rainfall in September that caused century's worst floods here.

The state is going to vote on Nov 25. Assembly elections will be held in five phase and the election results will be declared on Dec 23, 2014.

IANS