Respite for people as mercury rises, but cold wave not over yet

New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) People across most of North India got a respite from the chilly conditions persisting over the past few days with temperatures rising and bright sunshine during the day, though weathermen cautioned that the cold wave was not over yet.

In the capital, people got some relief as the mercury rose to 8.2 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal.

However, the Met Department said the next few days would still be chilly as the cold Northerly winds continued to have influence over the area. It has forecast the minimum to hover around seven degrees over the next 24 hours accompanied by fog or mist in the morning.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 21.4 degrees, six degrees below normal, the met department said.

Also, according to the BBC weather forecast, the mercury could drop to a low of four degrees C on Sunday and three degrees C on Monday.

The weather office has also forecast a return of foggy conditions in the capital from beginning of next week.

The death toll remained at 180 with no fatalities due to the weather reported from anywhere in the country. Altogether 20 deaths were reported in the cold wave in Punjab and Haryana, 120 in Uttar Pradesh, 35 in Bihar and five in North Bengal.

Cold climatic conditions prevailed at many places in north-west region with the night temperatures remaining low even as bright sunshine greeted the people in the region today.

The minimum temperatures hovered below normal at Amritsar, Jammu and Karnal, while they stayed above normal in Ludhiana, Hissar and Chandigarh.

Certain areas in the region reported fog reducing the visibility to zero at Adampur and Sarsawa and upto 200 metres at Udhampur, 400 metres at Palam (Delhi) and 800 metres at Ambala, Halwara and Hindon. Bhatinda, Pathankot, Amritsar, Sirsa, Suratgarh and Jammu experienced mist in the morning.

Though the cold wave has abated in Punjab, there is possibility of ground frost occurring in the state during the next two nights, according to the Weather Officee.

Amritsar turned out to be coldest place in the plains, recording 2.0 degrees, three degrees below normal, while Ludhiana registered 6.5 degrees and Patiala 7.4 degrees.

In Haryana, Karnal reeled under a low of 6.4 degrees, one degree below normal, and Ambala 6.9 degrees. The minimum hovered three degrees above normal at Hissar at 9.0 degrees.

Despite sunny weather, cold conditions prevailed in Chandigarh with the minimum at 7.6 degrees which was, however, one degree above normal.

However, Himachal Pradesh continued to be under the impact of a cold wave. Extreme cold wave conditions persisted in the tribal belt where snowfall occured at isolated places, including Killar and Sach Pass. The minimum hovered at minus 5.1 degrees at Kalpa in Kinnaur district.

Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded 0.6 degrees and Sundernagar in Mandi district showed 1.5 degrees. Shimla registered 2.4 degrees.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh got a much-needed respite from the spine-chilling cold wave conditions, persisting in the state for the last three weeks.

According to the weatherman, the temperatures have begun to rise during the day hours. However, the nights would remain chilly for the next few days.

During the last 24 hours, the state reported a rise in the minimum temperature by a few degrees at many places.

Allahabad remained the coldest at 5.5 degrees. Jhansi recorded 11 degrees , which was two degrees above normal. The state capital recorded six degrees, which was normal.

Met officials have forecast rainfall accompanied by thundershowers in Bareilly, Moradabad and Meerut divisions during the next 24 hours.

In Rajasthan, temperatures went up by a few degrees though the sky remained overcast most part of the day at many places due to western disturbances.

The northern border district of Ganganagar was the coldest place with 5.5 degrees. The temperature in the state capital Jaipur rose to 9 degrees while Pilani in Jhunjhunu district recorded minimum of 6.1 degrees.

In Kolkata, the city's brush with winter seemed to be on the wane with a balmy breeze replacing the cold wind of the past few days.

The minimum temperature rose to 13 degrees today from 12 degrees of the past few days. The maximum temperature was 25.7 degrees, according to Met sources.

The Met office forecast a clear sky with the minimum temperature varying between 12 to 13 degrees.

No rainfall was recorded.

UNI