Srinagar, Jan 3 (IANS) Extreme cold wave conditions continued to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir Monday with Leh freezing under a minimum temperature of minus 23 degrees Celsius, an official said.

‘The minimum temperature was minus 5.2 degrees in Srinagar. It was minus 23 in Leh and minus 18.2 in Kargil town (of Ladakh region). In Pahalgam (hill station), the minimum temperature was minus 12.4 degrees and in Gulmarg (ski resort), it was minus 11.7 degrees,’ assistant meteorologist M.S. Wani said here.

There would be no respite from the cold wave lashing the Kashmir Valley, he said.

‘Dry and cold weather with clear night skies is expected over the next 24 hours (till Tuesday morning). This indicates the temperatures can dip further,’ Wani added.

Not many locals ventured out of their homes in the morning and most roads in Srinagar remained deserted.

As the feeble winter sun raised the temperatures marginally, life started moving with commuters and shoppers braving it with tweed over garments, ‘pherans’ and woolen jerseys.