Srinagar, Nov 23 - The mercury dropped to minus 23.5 degrees Celsius in Leh, the weather office said Monday.

"The minimum temperature in Leh was minus 23.5 degrees while the maximum was 9.5 degrees Celsius yesterday (Sunday)," an official of the weather office here said.

It is highly unusual for the temperature to drop so low in Leh during the month of November although winter temperatures drop even further during January.

"Usually such low temperatures would be witnessed here in the months of January-February, but for the temperature to drop to minus 23.5 degrees in November is something I have not seen in my lifetime," said Nisar Ali, 45, a driver belonging to Leh.

Drass in Kargil district is the coldest inhabited place in the country where winter temperatures drop as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.  (IANS)