Amritsar records 1 degree

Chandigarh, Jan 25 (UNI) People reeled under cold wave conditions in many parts of northwest India even as the mercury rose staying 1.0 degrees Celsius at Amritsar.

A thick fog enveloped several areas in the region, including Bhatinda, Amritsar, Adampur, Sarsawa, Hindon and Palam in Delhi, reducing visibility considerably at these places. The fog, however, disappeared as the day advanced.

Cold surface winds blew across Punjab and Amritsar, where the minimum temperature hovered four degrees below normal, turned out to be the coldest place in the plains even though the mercury rose in the holy city from 0.5 degrees recorded yesterday.

The minimum stayed one degree below normal at Ludhiana recording 4.8 degrees while Patiala showed 6.8 degrees.

Cold wave, prevailing in some parts of Punjab and Haryana, is likely to abate during the next two days, according to the Weather Office here.

In Haryana, the minimum hovered at 4.5 degrees celsius at Narnaul while Ambala recorded a low of 4.6 degrees, two degrees below normal. Karnal registered 7.0 degrees, Hissar 7.4 degrees and Rohtak 9.4 degrees.

Cold wave conditions prevailed in certain areas of Himachal Pradesh. A piercing cold wave swept the tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmour areas in Chamba district, where the minimum hovered below freezing point. Kalpa in Kinnaur district showed minus 2.0 degrees.

Kullu valley was under the impact of cold climatic conditions as the temperature stayed low. The minimum hovered 0.7 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu district and at 1.3 degrees at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

However, Shimla was warmer with the minimum recording 9.5 degrees which was seven degrees above normal.

Although the mercury rose in Chandigarh but it stayed below normal. The city registered the minimum at 6.4 degrees, two degrees below normal.

The Weather Office has predicted light to moderate rain or snow at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

UNI