No respite from biting cold, toll touches 137

New Delhi, Jan 6 (UNI) The intense cold wave across north India continued unabated today as temperature slid further in various parts taking the toll due to biting cold to 137 with seven more deaths in Uttar Pradesh.

Three people died in Gonda while two each succumbed to spine-chilling cold in Aligarh and Siddharthnagar districts of Uttar Pradesh during the last 24 hours taking the toll in the state to 85. Parts of world famous Dal lake in Kashmir were partially frozen this morning while mercury in Punjab plunged further.

Delhiites are in for another weekend of severe chill with cold Northerly winds continuing to maintain the severe cold wave conditions sweeping the city over the last week and the weatherman forecasting a further drop in mercury tomorrow.

Even though temperature in the Capital today rose slightly, from the season's lowest of 4.2 degrees C yesterday, to 5.6 degrees C, it still remained one degree below normal. Meanwhile, visibility levels in the city continued to remain normal for the third consecutive day with just a slight mist witnessed this morning. The next week could also witness a return to the foggy conditions in Delhi.

Parts of world famous Dal Lake were partially frozen this morning due to coldest night of this winter so far in the Kashmir valley.

Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.1 degrees while Jammu registered 4.1 degrees, four degrees below normal.

Cold to severe cold wave conditions, prevailing in most parts of Punjab and many parts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, are likely to continue for the next two days, according to the Weather Office.

Adampur, near Jalandhar, reeled under intense cold wave with minus 3.8 degrees C and continued to be the coldest place in the plains.

Chandigarh recorded the minimum at zero degrees celsisus, seven degrees below normal.

The cold wave across Haryana swept unabated with the temperatures hovering at five to six degrees below normal. Ambala recorded 1.4 degrees, six degrees below normal while Karnal showed 2.0 degrees, five degrees below normal. Narnaul in Mahendergarh district recorded 3.0 degrees and Hissar 6.6 degrees, two degrees above normal.

Extreme cold conditions prevailed in the tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh where lakes, springs and natural water bodies have already frozen. Mercury hovered at minus 6.7 degrees at Kalpa in the tribal Kinnaur district.

Intense cold wave also lashed mid and lower hills in the state.

Sundernagar in Mandi district recorded the minimum at minus 1.9 degrees while Bhuntar in Kullu district reported minus 1.3 degrees, two degrees below normal. Icy-cold winds lashed the capital town of Shimla recording a minimum of minus 1.4 degrees, three degrees below normal.

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