New Delhi: Large parts of north India continue to shiver under an intense cold spell, with temperatures dipping sharply across several states and winter conditions turning harsher on Monday. The chill has deepened particularly in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and the hill states, prompting weather authorities to warn of continued cold wave conditions in the coming days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), isolated pockets of northern India are likely to witness severe cold wave conditions, while night temperatures are expected to remain abnormally low. In a seasonal first, some areas of Delhi recorded minimum temperatures falling below the 3-degree Celsius mark, signalling a sharper winter phase.
Rajasthan remained among the coldest regions, with parts of the state slipping into sub-zero territory. Pratapgarh registered a minimum temperature of minus 2 degrees Celsius, while Barmer saw the mercury drop to minus 1 degree Celsius. Weather officials said cold to severe cold wave conditions were reported at isolated locations across the desert state.
The chill extended across the northern plains as well. Punjab and Haryana witnessed temperatures hovering close to the freezing point, with Bathinda emerging as the coldest spot in Punjab at 1.6 degrees Celsius. In neighbouring Haryana, Hisar recorded the lowest minimum at 2.2 degrees Celsius. Morning fog in several areas further reduced visibility, adding to travel disruptions.
Other parts of Punjab also experienced biting cold. Faridkot recorded a minimum of 2.9 degrees Celsius, while Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar and Gurdaspur saw temperatures ranging between 3.2 and 4.6 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, reported a cold night with the mercury settling at 5 degrees Celsius.
In Haryana, Narnaul shivered at a low of 3 degrees Celsius, while Ambala, Faridabad and Rohtak recorded minimum temperatures of 5.5 degrees, 4.2 degrees and 4 degrees Celsius respectively.
Hill states were no exception to the freezing conditions. Several locations in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand reported temperatures below zero, intensifying the cold wave across the region.
Meteorologists have advised people to take precautions against the severe cold, particularly during early morning and night hours, as the current spell is expected to persist for at least a few more days.
