Mercury dips to minus 2.2 degrees celsius at Adampur

Chandigarh, Jan 8 (UNI) A cold wave tightened its noose in north-west India today as the temperatures continued to remain low in the region with Adampur in Punjab recording minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.

The minimum hovered three degrees to six degrees celsius below normal in Punjab and Haryana where ground frost may occur at many places during the next two nights.

A severe cold wave swept Punjab despite a bright sunshine greeting the people during the day. People groaned under intense cold wave at Adampur, near Jalandhar, which recorded the lowest temperature, turning out to be the coldest place in the plains.

A piercing cold wave lashed Amritsar with the minimum dipping to minus 1.0 degrees, five degrees below normal, in the holy city. The mercury also hovered five degrees below normal at Patalia and three degrees down at Ludhiana, respectively recording 2.2 degrees and 3.0 degrees Celsius.

People in Haryana also reeled under severe cold wave with the temperature hovering three to four degrees below normal. Narnaul in Mahendergarh district recorded the minimum at minus 0.4 degrees while Karnal showed 3.8 degrees, three degrees below normal and Ambala 3.3 degrees, four degrees below normal. The minimum also kept low at Hissar recording 5.0 degrees Intense cold wave also blew across Chandigarh and its adjoining areas during the day. The city recorded the minimum at 0.6 degrees celsisus, six degrees below normal.

The cold wave also lashed Himachal Pradesh and harsh cold conditions prevailed in the tribal areas of the state. The mercury hovered at minus 4.5 degrees at Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district.

Kullu and Kangra valleys and the entire Mandi district was facing biting cold wave. Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded the minimum at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal, while Sundernagar in Mandi district regisrtered minus 1.5 degrees.

Shimla was a little warmer, recording 2.8 degrees, one degree above normal. But Icy-cold winds lashed the capital town.

Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions, prevailing in many parts of the region, are likely to continue for the next two days. The cold wave and fog-related mishaps have already claimed the lives of 17 people in Punjab and Haryana so far.

The Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of unabated cold wave with Srinagar recording minus 5.6 degrees while Jammu registered 4.0 degrees, four degrees below normal.

The Met Office has predicted partly cloudy days in the region with fog or mist occuring in morning and evening in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

UNI