New Delhi: People across Punjab and Haryana
reeled under severe cold wave conditions on Saturday while a thick
blanket of fog affected normal life in many parts of north
India where over 500 people have died so far this winter.
In the national capital, thick fog disrupted the schedules
of 50 domestic and international flights and led to
cancellation of eight trains. Over 80 trains ran hours behind
schedule.
Jet Airways has suspended all its flights to and from
Chandigarh till January 25 because of fog, which also affected
vehicular traffic in the region.
Icy winds swept Amritsar, which braved a low of minus 0.8
degrees Celsius, five degrees below the normal, while Ludhiana
and Patiala had a minimum temperature of 5.2 deg C and 5 deg C
respectively.
In Haryana, Ambala chilled at 2.4 deg C, down by four
notches, while the minimum at Karnal was 4 deg C, three below
normal.
People in Jammu and Kashmir got some respite from the
intense cold as mercury level went up by a few notches due to
overnight clear skies.
Jammu recorded a low of 4.9 deg C today as against 3.6 deg
C yesterday. Banihal was the coldest place in Jammu region
with a low of 0.9 deg C as against 2 deg C yesterday.
In Kashmir valley, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature
of minus 1 deg C almost same as yesterday. Kargil in Ladakh
region had a low of minus 8.4 deg C against minus 12.8 deg C
yesterday and Leh recorded a low of minus 10.6 deg C.
In Rajasthan, Pilani was the coldest place with a minimum
temperature of 4.6 deg C this morning, while Jodhpur,
Jaisalmer and Jaipur recorded 9.6 deg C, 10.4 deg C and 10.5
deg C respectively.
Mild snowfall in higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh
intensified cold conditions but the lower areas including
Shimla enjoyed a pleasant weather in the absence of rain or
snow.
Lahaul & Spiti and Pangi-Bharmour areas of Chamba received
mild snowfall, while Keylong was the coldest place in the
state with night temperature of minus 8.4 deg C.
Though minimum temperature rose marginally in the national
capital, air operations remained disrupted at the IGI airport
due to dense fog with over 50 domestic and international
flights being affected.
Three morning flights were cancelled, while 32 domestic
and 20 international ones were delayed by over three to four
hours as runway visibility dipped to 75 metres around 3.30 am
and again around 7.30 am this morning.
Rail traffic too remained affected as eight trains were
cancelled and over 80 others ran hours behind schedule due to
fog. A dozen other trains were rescheduled, a Northern Railway
official said.
The city recorded a minimum temperature of 7.7 deg C today
against 7.4 deg C yesterday.
PTI
