Cold wave continues to sweep North

Severe cold wave sweeping Punjab and Haryana for over a week further intensified on Sunday with minimum temperature hovering in the range of 2-5 degrees Celsius at most places across the region.

Adampur in Punjab was the coldest place in the two states with a minimum temperature of 0.7 degrees Celsius.

Freezing cold also swept Narnaul in Haryana, which recorded a low of 1.5 degrees Celsius, down by three degrees from normal level.

A Met official said that barring south Haryana including Rohtak, Hisar and Bhiwani and isolated places in Punjab, fog had lifted from rest of the region.

“Clear skies led to sudden fall in minimum temperature although the maximum temperature increased slightly. Fog is also likely to lift from remaining parts of Haryana and Punjab in the next two days,” he said. Piercing cold also swept Amritsar in Punjab, which recorded a low of 2.6 degrees Celsius, down one notch against normal.

Bathinda settled at minimum temperature of 2.5 degrees Celsius, Halwara 3.7 degrees, Pathankot 3.8 degrees, Gurdaspur 3.8 degres, Faridkot 3.8  degreesand Ludhiana 4.4 degrees Celsius were among other places in Punjab which reeled under intense cold as minimum temperature hovered few notches below normal limit.

Chandigarh, too, experienced a cold night at 5.8 degrees Celsius.

There was no let up in biting chill at Hisar in Haryana, which recorded a low of 2.4 degrees Celsius, down four notches against normal limit.

It was icy cold in Sirsa, with minimum temperature settling at 2.1 degrees Celsius.

Karnal 4.5 degrees Celsius, Bhiwani 4.6 degrees Celsius, Rohtak 5.2 and Ambala 6.7 degrees Celsius also experienced a cold night.

 The Met Department has forecast dense fog and severe cold conditions in next 48 hours in parts of Punjab and Haryana.