Adampur records minus 1.2 degrees celsius

Chandigarh, Jan 29 (UNI) Cold wave intensified in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Union Territory today as the mercury again dipped at most places in the plains, touching minus 1.2 degrees celsius at Adampur.

A dense fog enveloped several areas, reducing visibility beyond 700 metres at Udhampur and 800 metres at Adampur and Hindon. Jammu, Pathankot, Halwara, Ambala, Bhatinda and Palam in Delhi reported mist.

People groaned under piercing cold wave in Punjab and Haryana as the night temperatures hovered two degrees to six degrees below normal. The Met office issued a low temperature warning that ground frost might occur at many places in Punjab and few places in Haryana during the next two nights.

The minimum temperature dipped to minus 1.2 degrees celsius at Adampur, near Jalandhar, turning it the coldest place in Punjab.

Amritsar recorded the minimum at 0.6 degrees, four degrees below normal, while Ludhiana registered 1.5 degrees and Patiala 2.6 degrees which was five degrees down.

Halwara airbase was cold at 1.8 degrees, Bathinda at 3.2 degrees and the border town of Pathankot at 4.0 degrees.

The minimum also plummeted in Haryana with Hissar and Ambala respectively recording 2.3 degrees and 2.4 degrees which were five degrees below normal.

Narnaul in Mahendergarh district registered 2.5 degrees while Karnal showed 3.2 degrees, four degrees below normal.

Several areas in Himachal Pradesh were also reeling under the cold wave following fresh snowfall in higher reaches. The snowfall was preceded by overcast sky.

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. Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 8.5 degrees celsius.

The twin valleys of Kullu and Kangra were also under the impact of cold wave conditions. The minimum hovered at 1.4 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu district and 1.1 degrees at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

Icy-cold winds lashed the capital town of Shimla recording the minimum at 0.2 degrees Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were also under the imapct of cold wave conditions with the mercury again plunging hovering five degrees below normal. The city recorded the minimum at 2.4 degrees celsisus.

Cold wave continued to sweep Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar, the state's summer capital, recorded minus 0.8 degrees while Jammu registered 5.0 degrees, three 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 tomorrow. After 24 hours, the night temperatures are likely to fall by two degrees to three degrees celsius in the region.

UNI VKJ VN1815