Cold wave continues to sweep North India

North India continues to reel under severe Cold wave. In Jammu and Kashmir, there was fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of the state. Kargil in the frontier region of Ladakh was the coldest recorded place with night temperature falling to minus 14.5 degree Celsius yesterday. It had recorded a low of minus 14.2 on the 21st of this month when, the 40-day harsh winter period known as Chillai Kalan began. In the Leh town of Ladakh, the night temperature was recorded at minus 12.9 degrees.

In Himachal Pradesh, moderate snowfall in upper reaches and tribal areas plunged the mercury. Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district recorded a low of minus 11.2 degree Celsius. Thick frost occurred in higher hills and high altitude tribal areas as minimum temperature stayed 10 to 20 degree below the freezing point and water-pipes froze at many places.

In Punjab, the night temperature in Amritsar touched minus 0.2 degree celsius, four notches below normal. Narnaul was again the coldest place in Haryana recording a low of 3.5 degree celsius.

In Rajasthan, Churu recorded the lowest temperature of 3.4 degree in the state. Several trains of North Western Railway are running late due to dense fog.

In Delhi, the minimum temperature settled at 7.2 degree, a notch below the season’s average. The maximum temperature was recorded at 19.2 degrees, two notches below normal. However, people got respite from the dense fog conditions as only shallow fog was witnessed in certain parts of the city today.

MeT Director RK Jenamani said, Delhi will get respite from the dense fog due to blowing of strong north-western wave. He said, during the period, the day will be sunny but the temperature in the night will plunge to three to four degree Celsius below normal. – AIR-