New Delhi: Cold conditions intensified in
most parts of the northern region today as mercury dipped by
several notches with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir freezing at
minus 16 degrees.
The minimum temperature in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh
hovered between two to four degree Celsius below normal at
several places.
Rohtak in Haryana shivered at a low of 1.8 degrees, four
notches below normal, while Karnal recorded 4.8 degree
Celsius, three degrees below normal, Met office said.
Patiala and Amritsar, in Punjab, recorded a minimum
temperature of 5.5 and 5.8 degree Celsius respectively, even
as Chandigarh recorded a low of 6.8 degrees.
Icy winds coupled with steep drop in mercury resulted in
intense cold in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of
'Chilai Kalan', the 40-day harsh winter period.
Leh, in frontier region of Ladakh, was the coldest place
in the state with a low of minus 16 degrees while it recorded
a day temperature of minus 1.6. Meanwhile, Kargil recorded a
low and high of minus 14.2 and minus 3.6 respectively.
Srinagar recorded a minimum of 0.4 degrees, while it
settled at a maximum of 5.4 degree Celsius, making it the
coldest day of the season so far.
People in Himachal Pradesh had no respite from cold as
chilly winds swept across the state. Capital Shimla settled at
a minimum temperature of 5.7 degrees, while it recorded a day
temperature of 13.5.
Cold conditions aggravated in Rajasthan with Churu being
the coldest place with a minimum temperature of 4.2 degrees.
Ganganagar and Bikaner settled at a low of 6.3 and 8
degrees respectively, while Jaipur recorded 10.4 degree
Celsius.
Delhiites woke up to another misty and chilly morning as
the national capital recorded a minimum of 8.4 degree Celsius.
The minimum had yesterday dipped to the season's lowest of 7.7
degree Celsius.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, December 20, 2009, 23:20