New Delhi: North India got no respite from cold conditions today as icy winds swept across the region and mercury settled below normal in most parts.
A thick fog cover took its toll on rail, road and air traffic in many areas, though the national capital escaped the woes.
In Delhi, the minimum temperature settled two notches below normal at 5.6 degrees, while the maximum was recorded a degree below normal at 21.1 degrees.
The weatherman predicts a clear sky for tomorrow.
The Kashmir Valley reeled under sub-zero temperatures, where capital Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 3.2 degree Celsius, dropping from last night`s minus 1.8 degrees Celsius.
The minimum night temperature in Qazigund town of south Kashmir was minus 7.0 degrees Celsius against the Thursday’s minus 6.4 degrees, while that in Kokernag was minus 7.5 degrees Celsius.
While Pahalgam hill resort shivered at minus 13.0 degree Celsius, the minimum in Gulmarg settled at minus 11.0 degree Celsius.
The chill persisted in Punjab and Haryana also, where icy winds and thick fog cover threw life out of gear.
While Amritsar recorded the lowest temperature at 2.2 degrees, Chandigarh saw a minimum of 5.4 degrees, Met officials said.
Narnaul was the coldest in Haryana, where the mercury stood at at 3 degrees, down by two notches below normal.
Uttar Pradesh too continued to remain in the grip of cold
as mercury in most parts of the state hovered five to 13 notches below normal.
Ghazipur was the coldest place with a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius, Met officials said.
Night temperatures remained below normal in most places including Varanasi, Allahabad, Lucknow, Bareilly, Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Kanpur and Agra divisions, they said, adding cold conditions are likely to prevail during the next 24 hours.
Normal life was affected due to cold in Himachal Pradesh also, where a sharp decline in temperatures led to disruption in electricity and water supply.
Hindusthan-Tibet National highway was opened upto Karchham via Narkanda, but road beyond Manali was blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Several areas in Shimla and Kullu districts also remained cut off due to heavy snowfall, officials said.
The entire state reeled under biting chill, with the mercury staying between minus 14.6 to minus 28 degree Celsius, Met office said.
Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place with a minimum of minus 14.5 degrees, followed by Kalpa in Kinnaur, which recorded a low of minus 7.8 degrees.
While the tourist resort of Manali shivered at minus 4.4 degree Celsius, capital Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius.
PTI
