Watch: Snowfall turns Kashmir into winter wonderland; Dal Lake in Srinagar freezes as temperature drops below -7 degree

As winter intensifies, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed fresh snowfall, with temperatures plunging below freezing. In Srinagar, the iconic Dal Lake has frozen over, as the region's minimum temperature dropped to a chilling minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Watch: Srinagar's Dal Lake freezes

A video shared by news wire ANI shows Dal Lake, famous for its Shikara ride, freezing into a layer of ice on Tuesday.

Other parts of Kashmir have also experienced heavy snowfall, contributing to a significant increase in tourist arrivals. Doda and Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir have transformed into a winter wonderland with snow-covered mountains.

Several parts of Himachal Pradesh, like Jammu and Kashmir, have witnessed continuous snowfall over the past few days. As a result, cities like Manali and Shimla are experiencing a heavy inflow of tourists.

Fresh snowfall in Kashmir brings Christmas cheer 

Meanwhile, snowfall in the mountains and rainfall in Delhi and other parts of Rajasthan on Tuesday intensified coldwave conditions across the region. According to PTI, snowfall was recorded in Kashmir, Kinnaur, Lahaul, and Spiti, as well as the higher reaches of Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, and Sirmaur districts.

Officials said the minimum temperature in Kashmir had plummeted several degrees below the freezing point. The drop in mercury led to the freezing of water supply lines, even as a thin layer of ice covered the surface of several water bodies.

On Monday night, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam shivered at minus 7.8 degrees Celsius. The night temperature settled at minus 7.4 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg, minus 6.2 degrees in Qazigund, while Konibal, a hamlet in the Pampore region, was the coldest in the Valley at minus 8.5 degrees Celsius.

With no forecast of any major wet spell for the next two weeks, the weathermen have predicted erratic weather conditions in Kashmir valley till January 3, 2025, forecasting light snowfall over higher reaches.

The weather is expected to remain generally dry for the next three days. Light rain over the plains of Jammu and light snow over the higher reaches of Chenab Valley and Pirpanjal Range are expected from late December 27 afternoon to December 28 forenoon.