Cold wave sweeps region; Adampur records minus 0.6 degrees celsius

Chandigarh, Dec 28 (UNI) Cold wave swept north-west India wave with the mercury hovering one degree to five degrees below normal at many places in the region, touching minus 0.6 degrees Celsius at Adampur in Punjab today.

People groaned under piercing cold wave even as a dense fog enveloped several areas, reducing visibility to 500 metres at Udhampur, 700 metres at Palam in Delhi and 800 metres at Sarsawa in the morning.

Cold wave swept parts of Punjab and Haryana where ground frost may occur at few places in the next two nights, according to the Weather Office here.

The mercury dipped to minus 0.6 degrees celsius at Adampur near Jalandhar, turning it the coldest place in Punjab. Amritsar recorded the minimum at 0.6 degrees, three degrees below normal, while Ludhiana registered 4.9 degrees which was one degree down.

Halwara airbase, near Ludhiana, was cold at 2.8 degrees celsius while Pathankot recorded a low of 3.6 degrees and Bathinda 5.4 degrees celsius, a report from Jalandhar said.

The cold wave also lashed some parts of Haryana. Karnal with 3.4 degrees, five degrees below normal, was the coldest place in the state, followed by Ambala recording 4.6 degrees, two degrees below normal. Narnaul registered 6.0 degrees, Hissar 6.3 degrees and Rohtak 7.2 degrees Celsius.

Himachal Pradesh also reeled under the cold wave. People in the tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley and Bharmour area in Chamba district were facing biting cold wave as the minimum hovered below freezing point in these areas.

The entire Kullu valley and the capital town of Shimla were under the impact of cold wave. The minimum dipped to minus 0.2 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu district and minus 0.9 degrees at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

Icy-cold winds lashed Shimla and its adjoining areas with the capital town recording the minimum at 5.6 degrees celsius which was, however, three degrees above normal.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were also under the imapct of cold wave conditions although the mercury hovered one degree above normal. The city recorded the minimum at 7.2 degrees Celsisus.

The cold wave conditions sweeping Punjab and haryana are likely to abate in the next two days. The Met office predicted mainly sunny days in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh during the next 48 hours.

UNI