North India shivers under cold condition
New Delhi, Jan 2- Intense cold wave swept through the northern belt with the mercury going several degrees below freezing point in Kashmir, and a dense fog enveloping Punjab, Haryana on Tuesday.
In the national capital, dense fog led to cancellation of several flights and 21 trains. The minimum temperature was recorded at 8.4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum settled at 17.7 degrees, lowest of the season recorded so far.
The visibility in the city was recorded at 800 metres at 5.30 AM, which reduced to 300 metres at 8.30 AM. It improved to 800 metres at 11.30 am and further to 1,000 metres at 2.30 pm, a MeT official said.
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mercury hovered around freezing point at several places[/caption]
Kashmir reeled under extreme cold conditions as the mercury stayed several degrees below the freezing point.
In Srinagar, the mercury showed a marginal upward movement to settle at minus 4.3 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Leh in Ladakh region was the coldest in Jammu and Kashmir as the minimum temperature fell slightly from yesterday's minus 14.5 degrees Celsius to minus 14.7 degrees, the weatherman said, adding the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 6.0 degrees Celsius.
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dense fog led to cancellation of several flights and 21 trains[/caption]
The night temperature in Pahalgam, the famous health resort which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, he said.
Biting cold wave conditions also persisted in most parts of Himachal Pradesh as minimum temperatures dropped further and icy winds swept the region. High altitude tribal areas and other higher hills witnessed another spell of mild snowfall.
Rohtang, Pangi, Drass, Koksar and Bharmaur received 8 cm, 6 cm, 5 cm, 4 cm and 3 cm of fresh snow respectively, while isolated rains took place at some places in mid hills.
Kalpa and Manali in the hill state shivered under sub-zero temperatures with minimum temperatures at minus 4.8 degrees and minus 3.2 degrees, respectively, while the mercury hovered around freezing point at several places in mid and higher hills.
A dense fog enveloped several areas of Punjab and Haryana, thus adversely affecting, air, rail and road traffic even as most areas in the two states shivered under intense cold. The visibility was reduced to up to 200 metres in the states, the MeT office said.
Bathinda at a low of 2.7 degrees Celsius was the coldest in the two states.
While Faridkot braved a low of 3 degrees Celsius, Narnaul settled at 3.5 degrees Celsius. Amritsar shivered at 4.2 degrees Celsius followed by Sirsa at 4.8 degrees, Pathankot at 5.7 degrees, Adampur 5.8 degrees Celsius, Bhiwani at 6.5 degrees and Hisar 7.3 degrees Celsius.
Karnal registered a low of 8 degrees Celsius, Ludhiana 8.4 degrees, Patiala 8.6 degrees, Chandigarh 8.7 degrees and Ambala recorded 8.9 degrees Celsius, the MeT added. PTI
