Mercury dips to minus 0.8 degrees celsius at Adampur

Chandigarh, Jan 15 (UNI) Cold wave continued unabated in many parts of north-west India today with the minimum temperature hovering below normal following snowfall in higher reaches of Himachal Praesh, touching minus 0.8 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 three degrees to four degrees celsius below normal in Punjab.

Cold wave conditions, prevailing in many parts of Punjab and some parts of Haryana, 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.

People groaned under biting cold wave at Amritsar with the minimum dipping to 0.2 degrees celsius, four degrees below normal, followed by Ludhiana recording 2.9 degrees, three degrees below normal, and Patiala registering 3.5 degrees, four degrees low.

Some parts of Haryana also reeled under cold wave with the temperature hovering two degrees to four degrees below normal.

Narnaul in Mahendergarh district recorded 1.5 degrees while Ambala and Karnal respectively recorded 3.1 degrees and 5.2 degrees celsius. Hissar recorded 6.3 degrees which was, however, one degree above normal.

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

The Cold wave also lashed certain parts of Himachal Pradesh and piercing cold wave conditions prevailed in the tribal areas following a snowfall in the higher reaches of the state last night.

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

The cold wave also lashed Sundernagar in Mandi district and Bhuntar in Kullu district, respectively recording the minimum at 1.2 degrees and 1.5 degrees celsius.

Shimla and its surrounding areas were also under the impact of cold wave although the the minimum temperature rose to 2.0 degrees celsius.

Despite a bright sunshine greeting the people cold wave swept across Chandigarh and its adjoining areas during the day. The city recorded the minimum at 2.0 degrees celsisus, five degrees below normal.

Intensified cold wave blew across the Kashmir valley as the minimum temperature hovered at minus 3.4 degrees in Srinagar while Jammu registered 4.5 degrees, four degrees below normal.

The Met Office has predicted mainly sunny days in the region with fog or mist occuring during night and morning in Punjab and Haryana in the the next 24 hours.

UNI