Cold Wave Deepens in NCR, Gurugram Records Bone-Chilling 0.8°C

The cold wave sweeping across north India intensified further on Wednesday, pushing Gurugram deeper into extreme winter conditions as the city recorded a minimum temperature of 0.8 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The reading placed Gurugram among the coldest locations in the region, with residents continuing to struggle against biting cold and harsh mornings.

Just days earlier, the city had plunged to 0.6 degrees Celsius, its lowest temperature in nearly 50 years and colder than several popular hill stations, underlining the severity of the ongoing cold spell across the National Capital Region.

Gurugram near historic lows

Data from IMD's automatic weather station show that Monday's 0.6 degrees Celsius reading equalled Gurugram's January 22, 1977 low. Records indicate that the city has dipped below this mark only three times in the past. It touched minus 0.4 degrees Celsius on December 5, 1966, recorded 0 degrees Celsius on January 11, 1970, and logged 0.3 degrees Celsius on January 22, 1979.

The near-freezing temperatures have made this winter one of the harshest in recent memory for the fast-growing city and its surrounding areas.

Plains shiver as hills stay warmer

The cold wave has spread across much of the National Capital Region and northwest India. Delhi's Safdarjung observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, while several other plain regions reported similarly low readings.

In contrast, hill stations remained relatively warmer. Mussoorie recorded 7.7 degrees Celsius, while Shimla saw a minimum of 8.8 degrees Celsius, reversing the usual winter pattern where hills are colder than the plains.

Explaining this anomaly, IMD director general M Mohapatra pointed to differing weather conditions. "The night was cloudy over the higher reaches, which is why minimum temperatures remained higher there," he said. Over the plains, clear skies combined with cold northwesterly winds led to intense radiative cooling, causing temperatures to fall sharply.

Frost blankets fields and roads

The impact of the cold wave was clearly visible across Gurugram and nearby areas. Frost, locally known as pala, coated crops, grasslands and vehicle windshields during the early hours, adding to the severity of the conditions.

The persistent chill has raised concerns for farmers, commuters and daily wage workers who are exposed to the weather for long hours.

Residents recount harsh winter experience

For many residents, the cold has been unlike anything they have experienced before. Jeeva Thavasiraj, a 22-year-old site engineer working in Sector 66, said the conditions were extreme. "I come from Tamil Nadu and have never experienced this kind of cold. Even with heavy safety shoes, our feet become numb," he said.

Daily travel has also become risky due to fog and frost. Sunita Devi, who commutes from Sohna, described the challenges on the road. "There was frost on our bus's windshield and crops in the fields. The elevated roads had very poor visibility, and vehicles had to move slowly," she said.

With cold wave conditions expected to persist, authorities have urged people to take precautions, especially during early morning and late night hours, as north India continues to endure one of its coldest spells in years.