Srinagar: Intense cold wave gripped Kashmir division including Ladakh region as Kargil became the coldest recorded place this winter with the mercury plunging 20 degrees below the freezing point.

"The minimum temperature recorded in Kargil town of Ladakh region was minus 20 degrees Celsius last night," a Meteorological department official said today. He said this was the lowest recorded minimum temperature this winter in Kashmir division. Kargil had witnessed minus 17.2 degrees Celsius on January 9.