Freezing cold wave sweeps region

Chandigarh, Jan 23 (UNI) Freezing cold wave conditions, prevailing in many parts of north-west India for the past few days, continued today without any let up as the mercury hovered five degrees to seven degrees celsius below normal in the region.

Despite a clear sky and sunshine there was little respite from the biting cold as chilly winds continued to blew across the region.

Certain areas in the region, including Udhampur, remained fog-bound, resulting in reduced visibility while Adampur, Sarsawa, Sirsa and Hindon reported mist.

The night temperaure dipped below normal by seven degrees at Ambala and Karnal, six degrees at Amritsar and Patiala and five degrees at Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Narnaul and Safderjung in Delhi.

People shivered under the spine chilling cold wave in Punjab today.

Adampur at minus 3.3 degrees celsius was still the coldest place in the plains, followed by Amritsar recording minus 1.8 degrees celsius, Ludhiana 1.1 degrees and Patiala 1.2 degrees celsius.

In Haryana, biting cold wave continued to sweep the state with Ambala reporting the minimum at 0.3 degrees, Karnal at 0.2 degrees and Narnaul in Mahendergarh district at zero degrees celsius.

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

Himachal Pradesh also continued to be under the imapct of cold wave conditions with the entire tribal belt reeling under freezing cold wave conditions. Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 5.5 degrees against minus 10.6 degrees celsius registered yesterday.

The cold wave aggravated at Una following further fall in the mercury, recording minus 3.5 degrees while Sundernagar in Mandi district showed minus 0.8 degrees and Bhuntar in Kullu district reported 1.0 degrees.

Shimla and its adjoining areas also reeled under severe cold wave with the night temperature dipping to minus 1.2 degrees from minus 0.6 degrees celsius recorded yesterday.

There was no respite from the cold wave sweeping Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar recording minus 3.3 degrees.

Cold wave also lambasted the people in Delhi as the night temperature stayed low in the national capital. Safderjung recorded the minimum at 3.0 degrees celsius, five degrees below normal.

People in Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were also facing severe cold wave conditions. The minimum further declined in the city recording 1.4 degrees celsius, five degrees below normal.

The cold wave conditions prevailing in the region are likely to abate in the next two days, according to the Weather Office here. It predicted light to moderate rain or snow at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and sunny days in Punjab and Haryana during the next 48 hours.

UNI VKJ VN1757