Cold wave continues unrelentingly in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Jan 28 (UNI) Cold wave, currently sweeping north-west India, continued unrelentingly as higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall today.

The night temperatures stayed two degrees to five degrees celsius below normal at most places in the region, swept by chilly winds following partially cloudy weather during the day. The pale yellow Sun, peeping occasionally, afforded little warmth to the people in the region.

There was no let up in the cold wave in Punjab and Haryana despite rise in the night temperatures at some places in the plains. The cold wave is likely to continue for the next two days, according to the Met office here. It warned of ground frost occuring at few places in Punjab and Haryana during the next two nights.

All government and private schools in Patiala district have been ordered to open one hour late than their scheduled timings from tomorrow in view of the cold wave. The decision will be effective for one week. However, closing timings of the schools will remain unchanged, a report from Patiala said.

Ludhiana, where the minimum temperature hovered five degrees below normal, turned out to be the coldest place in Punjab, recording 2.0 degrees celsius. The minimum stayed below normal by three degrees at Amritsar and four degrees at Patiala, respectively recording 2.4 degrees and 3.9 degrees celsius.

The temperature rose to 2.4 degrees at Adampur, near Jalandhar, while the Halwara airbase recorded the minimum at 3.6 degrees. The night temperatures also rose in the Malwa belt with Bathinda recording 4.4 degrees, while the border town of Pathankot recorded 6.0 degrees celsius.

The cold wave also lashed Haryana and persisted with severity in some parts of the state.

Karnal and Narnaul, both recording the minimum at 2.6 degrees celsius, turned out to be the coldest places in the state, followed by Ambala recording 3.5 degrees, four degrees degree below normal.

Hissar showed 3.6 degrees, two degrees above normal.

Cold wave conditions prevailed in Himachal Pradesh where higher reaches experienced fresh snowfall since last night.

A piercing cold wave swept the tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmour areas in Chamba district, where the minimum hovered below freezing point. Kalpa in Kinnaur district showed minus 11.6 degrees.

The twin valleys of Kullu and Kangra were also under the impact of cold wave conditions. The minimum hovered at 3.2 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu district and minus 1.3 degrees at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

Shimla and its surrounding areas also reeled under severe cold wave conditions with the capital town recording the minimum temperature minus 1.3 degrees.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were also under the imapct of cold wave with the mercury hovering two degrees below normal. The city recorded the minimum at 5.0 degrees celsisus.

Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of cold wave with Srinagar recording minus 1.6 degrees celsius.

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

UNI VKJ VN1743