Cold wave intensifies; Adampur records -5.0 degrees celsius

Chandigarh, Jan 22 (UNI) Cold wave, currently sweeping the north-west India, intensified today following further decline in the mercury with Adampur in Punjab recording minus five degrees celsius.

Chilly winds blew across Punjab and Haryana as the pale yellow Sun occasionally peeped through the skies, affording little warmth to the people.

Certain areas in the region were enveloped in thick fog reducing the visibility upto 700 metres at Palam in Delhi and 800 metres at Hindon.

People groaned under piercing cold wave in Punjab as the night temperatures further dipped, hovering five to six degrees below normal.

The mercury fell to minus five degrees at Adampur, near Jalandhar, which recorded the coldest night in the last three decades.

Piercing cold wave also swept Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala, respectively recording minus 2.4 degrees, 1.0 degrees and 0.8 degrees.

A severe cold wave also lashed Haryana where the minimum hovered three degrees to seven degrees below normal, plummeting to minus 0.3 degrees at Karnal, 0.5 degrees at Narnaul, 1.2 degrees at Ambala and 3.3 degrees at Hissar.

Cold wave conditions, prevailing in the region, are likely to abate in the next two days, according to the Weather Office here.

Ground frost is likey to occur at most places in Punjab and many places in Haryana during the next two nights.

Cold wave also lambasted Himachal Pradesh with tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley and Bharmour area in Chamba district facing harsh cold wave. Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 10.6 degrees celsius.

Una in lower hills recorded minus 3.0 degrees while Sundernagar in Mandi district showed minus 0.3 degrees and Bhuntar in Kullu district reported 2.3 degrees.

A biting cold wave also swept Shimla and its adjoining areas with the night temperature staying minus 0.6 degrees in the capital town.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were also under the impact of cold weather conditions. The city recorded the minimum at 1.6 degrees four degrees below normal.

Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of cold wave with Srinagar recording minus 5.4 degrees while Jammu registered 1.2 degrees, seven degrees below normal.

The Met Office predicted light to moderate rain or snow at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and partly cloudy days in Punjab and Haryana during the next 48 hours.

UNI VKJ SB HT1814