North-west region continues to be in grip of cold wave

Chandigarh, Jan 25 (UNI) The north-west India continued to be in the grip of severe cold wave even as the night temperatures rose at many places in the region today, staying at minus 1.1 degrees celsius at Amritsar.

Chilly winds blew across the region as the Sun remained drapped in clouds at many places during the greater part of the day in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

The night temperatures hovered two degrees to six degrees celsius below normal in Punjab and Haryana, where ground frost may occur at few places during the next two nights, according to the Met office here.

The cold wave, currently sweeping the region, is likely to abate in the next two days, the Met office said.

A biting cold wave lambasted Punjab with Amritsar turning as the coldest place in the plains, recording the minimum at minus 1.1 degrees celsius, five degrees below normal. The holy city had recorded minus 2.0 degrees yesterday.

Ludhiana and Patiala also reeled under the cold wave conditions with the minimum staying low, respectively recording 0.1 and 3.3 degrees, four degrees below normal.

Adampur, which had recorded sub zero temperature in the last four days, also recorded a rise in the minimum temperature 1.0 degrees while Halwara Airbase reported 3.4 degrees, Bhatinda 1.6 degrees and the border town of Pathankot 3.0 degrees.

Cold wave conditions also prevailed in Haryana although the night temperatures slightly increased in the state. The minimum settled at 2.0 degrees at Ambala, 2.2 degrees at Karnal, 3.0 degrees at Narnaul and 3.8 degrees at Hissar.

Cold wave persisted unabated in Himachal Pradesh with tribal areas experiencing extreme cold wave conditions.

Kalpa in Kinnuar district recorded the night temperature at minus 9.0 degrees celsius against minus 11.5 degrees registered yesterday.

Cold wave conditions also prevailed in Mandi, Kullu, Kangra and Shimla districts. The minimum temperature stayed at minus 1.4 degrees at Sundernagar, minus 0.4 degrees at Bhuntar and minus 2.8 degrees celsius at Una.

Piercing cold wave lashed the capital town of Shimla with the night temperature hovering at minus 3.5 degrees. The capital town had experienced the coldest night in 15 years yesterday after the mercury fell to minus 4.4 degrees celsius.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana also reeled under severe cold wave. The night temperature, however, increased to 3.4 degrees in the city, which was still three degrees below normal, from zero degrees recorded yesterday.

The entire Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of intensified cold wave. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the minimum at minus 5.5 degrees while Jammu, the state's winter capital, registered 2.7 degrees, five degrees below normal.

The Weather Office predicted light to moderate rain or snow at few places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 48 hours.

UNI VKJ VN1730