Srinagar, Jan 6 (IANS): There was no respite from the intense cold as the temperatures remained much below the freezing point in the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region of the state, said a weather official here Sunday.

"The night temperature was minus 4.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar. It was minus 8.0 in Pahalgam and minus 9.0 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg today (Sunday)," an official of the Met office told IANS.

Leh town in the Ladakh region was the coldest town in the state where the temperature dropped to minus 18.0 degrees Celsius. In Kargil town of Ladakh region it was 17.4 degrees Celsius, said the official.

According to the official, the cold conditions in the state would continue during the next 24 hours because of the dry weather dry here.

"Cold wave conditions are likely to continue in the state during the next 24 hours because of the dry weather. In Jammu region foggy weather can disrupt road and air traffic," the official said.

Parts of Dal Lake in summer capital Srinagar have already frozen here as fisherman and Shikarawallahs find it difficult to row their boats in the Kashmir Valley these days.

Freeze and frost on the city roads has made morning and evening passage for commuters and motorists risky as most of them prefer to remain indoors till the feeble winter sunshine breaks the frost.

Kashmir is passing through the harsh 40-day winter period known locally as the 'Chillai Kalan' which began here Dec 21 and will end Jan 30.