Cold wave sweeps region

Chandigarh, Dec 29 (UNI) Cold wave swept parts of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh today following further drop in the mercury, which touched 2.1 degrees celsius at Ludhiana, the lowest temperature recorded in the plains.

The night temperatures stayed one degree to four degrees below normal even as thick fog enveloped certain areas in the region, reducing visibility considerably. The visibility was nil at Ambala, Amritsar, Halwara and Sarsawa and upto 400 metres at Palam (Delhi), 500 metres at Adampur and Hindon and 800 metres at Udhampur, Pathankot, Bhatinda and Sirsa. Chandigarh experienced mist upto one kilometer.

People groaned under piercing cold wave in Punjab as the temperature stayed low. The minimum hovered four degrees below normal at Ludhiana, turning it the coldest place in the state. The mercury stayed one degree below normal at Amritsar and Patiala, respectively recording 4.7 degrees and 5.8 degrees.

The minimum also plummeted in Haryana with Karnal recording 4 degrees, four degrees below normal, while Ambala showed 4.4 degrees, three degrees below normal. Hissar registered 6.1 degrees and Narnaul 6.5 degrees celsius.

Several areas in Himachal Pradesh were also reeling under the cold wave. People in the tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley and Bharmour area in Chamba district were facing biting cold wave as the minimum hovered below zero degree in these areas.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 2.9 degrees.

Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded the minimum at 0.2 degrees while Sundernagar in Mandi district reported 2.4 degrees. However, the capital town of Shimla was warmer recording the minimum at 7.6 degrees, five degrees above normal.

Cold wave also lashed Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana. The city recorded the night temperature at 5.1 degrees which was one degrees below normal.

Parts of Jammu and Kashmir were also under the impact of cold wave.

The Met Office has predicted light to moderate rain or snow at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and partly cloudy days with fog or mist during night and morning in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours. Ground frost may occur at few places in Haryana and Punjab during the next two nights.

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