Amritsar records 0.2 degrees celsius

Chandigarh, Dec 22 (UNI) The night temperatures appreciably rose in many areas in the north-west India today but dipped to 0.2 degrees celsius at Amritsar, turning the holy city as the coldest place in the plains.

People groaned under piercing cold at Amritsar where the minimum temperature plummeted four degrees below normal.

Elsewhere in the region, the minimum stayed one degree to three degrees celsius above normal.

Several areas, including Jammu, Pathankot, Suratgarh, Hindon and Palam in Delhi reported mist in the morning which, however, disappeared as the day advanced.

It was a warm day for the people of the region as the Sun shone bright and clear during the day.

The Weather Office has predicted mainly sunny days in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh during the next 48 hours.

In Punjab, the minimum temperatures rose and hovered three degrees above normal at Ludhiana and Patiala, respectively recording 8.8 degrees and 8.7 degrees celsius.

In Haryana, Ambala, Karnal, Hissar, Narnaul and Rohtak registered increase in the night temperatures. Ambala recorded 7.7 degrees, Karnal 9.6 degrees, Hissar 9.6 degrees, Narnaul 7.0 degrees and Rohtak 9.2 degrees celsius.

Parts of Himachal Pradesh reported a decline in the temperatures with Bhuntar in Kullu district registering 1.6 degrees and Sundernagar in Mandi district 2.1 degrees. The mercury, however, rose at state capital Shimla to 7.8 degrees, four degrees above normal.

Cold winds swept Chandigarh although a bright sunshine greeted the residents during the day. The city with 9.6 degrees, four degrees above normal, also recorded an increase in the minimum temperature.

UNI