Mercury dips to minus 2.0 degrees Celsius at Adampur

Chandigarh, Feb 2 (UNI) People reeled under biting cold wave in the north-west India today following further decline in the night temperatures touching minus 2.0 degrees Celsius at Adampur in Punjab.

Cold surface winds blew across the plains as the minimum temperature stayed two degrees to eight degrees below normal in Punjab and Haryana.

Certain areas in the region, including Sarsawa, Ambala and Palam in Delhi, were enveloped in dense fog, reducing visibility considerably in these areas. The fog, however, disappeared as the day advanced.

There was no let-up in the cold wave in Punjab where Adampur continued to be the coldest place, recording the minimum temperature at minus 2.0 degrees Celsius following further drop in the mercury.

The minimum also fell at Ludhiana registering minus 0.1 degree, seven degrees below normal, while Patiala showed 0.1 degree which was eight degrees less.

The temperatures also plummeted in the Malwa belt of Punjab with Bathinda recording 2.4 degrees. The border town of Pathankot was cold at 3.0 degrees Celsius.

The cold wave also lashed Haryana where the minimum temperature dipped below normal by eight degrees at Ambala and seven degrees at Karnal, respectively recording minus 0.3 degree and 0.6 degrees.

Narnaul in Mahendergarh district also reported a fall in the mercury, recording the minimum at 1.7 degrees, four degrees below normal.

While the night temperatures dipped at most places in Haryana, there was no change in the temperature at Hissar which registered 5.1 degrees, two degrees below normal.

A severe cold wave swept mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh with tribal areas of the state experiencing freezing cold. Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 9.8 degrees Celsius.

The entire Kullu and Kangra valleys were under the impact of cold wave. The minimum dipped to minus 1.6 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu district and to minus 0.9 degrees at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

Shimla and tourist resorts of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda, were also lashed by cold wave. The capital town recorded the minimum at zero degree celsius, two degrees below normal.

Cold wave conditions, prevailing in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are likely to abate in the next one day, according to the Met Office here.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were also facing cold wave conditions as the mercury further dropped. The city recorded the minimum at 2.0 degrees Celsisus, five degrees below normal.

The Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of piercing cold wave with Srinagar recording minus 6.6 degrees, while Jammu registered 5.3 degrees, three degrees below normal.

The Met office predicted that moderate to rather heavy rain or snow will occur at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places in Haryana and Punjab during the next 48 hours.

UNI VKJ DS HT1757