Kashmir remained gripped by a persistent cold spell as temperatures plunged well below freezing point across the valley, officials reported on Friday.

Srinagar, the summer capital, saw the mercury drop to minus 3.5 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night, marking a slight rise from the previous night’s minus 5.4 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam, a key base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, recorded a chilling minus 5.0 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the renowned Gulmarg resort in Baramulla district registered a low of minus 3.44 degrees Celsius.

Other areas in the valley also experienced harsh cold, with Qazigund at minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, Kokernag at minus 1.9 degrees Celsius, and Kupwara at minus 4.2 degrees Celsius.

In Jammu, temperatures hovered at 7.3°C, slightly below the usual for this time of year. Banihal recorded 1.7°C, Batote 4.2°C, and Bhaderwah 0.4°C.

The relentless cold wave persists across Kashmir, impacting various parts of the region with significantly below-average temperatures.