IMD predicts condition likely to persist
AMN / WEB DESK
Cold wave has gripped entire North India. As per the India Meteorological Department, cold wave to severe cold wave conditions have been observed in some places over East Rajasthan, in isolated pockets over West Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.
Cold Wave conditions have also been observed in some places over Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh.
In Uttarakhand, normal life has been affected due to extreme cold conditions. Even as various parts of the state registered a marked drop in the temperature, the sunlight providing some relief in the day at various places including state capital Dehradun.
Snowfall reported at higher reaches during last 24 hours.
Few places in the mountainous region experienced sub zero temperature last night. Dense fog and ground frost witnessed at some places in plain areas of the state this morning. District administration has made arrangements of bonfire at various places to provide relief from severe cold conditions to the people.
The Kashmir valley has been gripped by bone-chilling cold wave ahead of the harshest phase of winters of 40 days known as ‘Chilai Kalan’ which will begin from Tuesday.
According to the MeT department, the capital city, Srinagar, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6 while the famous tourist resort, Pahalgam, registered a minimum temperature of minus 8.7 degree celcius last night. Water pipelines have frozen in most parts of the valley and people are spend their time indoors to avoid the extreme cold conditions.
Health experts have warned elderly people and children to stay indoors in the early morning and late evening hours as cold conditions are believed to continue for few days ahead.
In Himachal Pradesh, cold wave conditions are being experienced in most parts as the minimum temperature has fallen by a few degrees following snowfall in higher reaches.
Intense cold is being experienced in Shimla, Solan, Lahaul Spiti, Dalhousie, Kinnaur and Chamba districts. The minimum temperature across the state is hovering around 3 to 4 degrees Celsius below normal. The minimum temperature in the state was recorded at -10.3 in Keylong.
Churu has reported lowest minimum temperature of minus 2.6 degree Celsius followed by Sikar with minus 2.5 degrees and Amritsar with minus 0.5 degrees.
Director-General of the India Meteorological Department(IMD) Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that severe cold wave and cold wave cdonditions are likely to continue over Northwest India till Tuesday and abate thereafter.