Mercury dips to zero degrees Celsius at Bhuntar

Chandigarh, Dec 28 (UNI) Parts of north-west India were in the grip of cold wave with the mercury hovering below normal at many places in the region, touching zero degrees Celsius at Bhuntar in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh today.

People shivered under a piercing cold wave even as a dense fog enveloped several areas, reducing visibility to zero at Pathankot and Adampur and upto 400 metres at Palam (Delhi) and 500 metres at Jammu, Halwara and Sarsawa this morning.

Cold wave, lashing some parts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, is likely to continue and extend some more areas in the region during the next two days, according to the weather office here. Ground frost may occur at isolated places in Punjab during the next two nights.

Despite the cold wave sweeping Haryana, the temperatures stayed above normal in the state. Karnal with 7.4 degrees, one degree below normal, was the coldest place in the state, followed by Ambala and Hissar recording 8.0 degrees each.

Amritsar with 3.0 degrees, one degree below normal, was the coldest place in Punjab. Ludhiana recorded the minimum at 6.8 degrees while Patiala registered 7.6 degrees Celsius.

A severe cold wave swept Himachal Pradesh following further fall in the temperature. Icy-cold winds blew across the state despite a sunny weather.

People in the tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley and Bharmour area in Chamba district reeled under intensified cold wave as the minimum temperature hovered below freezing point in these areas. The minimum fell to minus 3.5 degrees celsius at Kalpa in Kinnaur district.

Sundernagar in Mandi district recorded 0.5 degrees while the capital town of Shimla showed 3.9 degrees, one degrees above normal.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were also under the impact of cold wave conditions with the mercury hovering 8.4 degrees, one degree above normal.

Cold wave also lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir with state's summer capital Srinagar recording minus 2.2 degrees and winter capital Jammu showing 5.0 degrees, three degrees below normal.

The Met Office predicted mainly sunny day in the region with fog or mist likely during night and morning in Haryana and Punjab tomorrow.

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