Mercury dips to minus 1.0 degrees Celsius at Adampur in Punjab

Chandigarh, Jan 11 (UNI) Biting cold wave lashed North-West India today following further fall in the mercury touching minus 1.0 degrees Celsius at Adampur in Punjab.

Adampur, near Jalandhar, reeled under intense cold wave and was the coldest place in the plains as the minimum hovered four degrees to five degrees Celsius below normal in Punjab.

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

It warned of ground frost formation at many places in Punjab and Haryana during the next two nights.

Despite a bright sunshine greeting in the morning, people reeted under cold wave that swept across Chandigarh and its adjoining areas during the day. The city recorded the minimum at 2.2 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal, against 3.0 degrees recorded yesterday.

People groaned under biting cold wave in Punjab as the temperature remained low. A piercing cold wave lashed Amritsar with the minimum dipping to minus 0.7 degrees C, five degrees below normal.

The minimum fell four degrees below normal at Ludhiana and Patiala, which recorded 2.4 degrees Celsius and 2.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

Some parts of Haryana also reeled under cold wave with the temperature hovering two degrees below normal. Narnaul in Mahendergarh district recorded 1.0 degrees while Ambala and Karnal registered two degrees below normal at 4.7 degrees and 4.6 degrees Celsius respectively. Hissar recorded 6.0 degrees which was, however, one degree above normal.

The cold wave and fog-related accidents have already claimed lives of 19 people in Punjab and Haryana so far.

Cold wave also lashed Himachal Pradesh and in the tribal areas where lakes, springs and natural water bodies have already frozen.

The mercury hovered at minus 4.7 degrees C at Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district.

Intense cold wave also lashed Sundernagar in Mandi district and Bhuntar in Kullu district respectively, recording the minimum at minus 0.4 degrees and minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal. Shimla and its surrounding areas were also under the impact of cold wave with the capital town recording the minimum at 2.3 degrees Celsius.

Intensified cold wave blew across the Kashmir valley as the minimum temperature further dipped minus 5.6 degrees C in Srinagar while Jammu registered 4.2 degrees, four degrees below normal.

The Met Office has predicted mainly sunny days in Himachal Pradesh and partly cloudy days with fog or mist in Punjab and Haryana in the the next 24 hours.

UNI