By IANS
New Delhi : Blistering cold wave conditions continued in north India WEdnesday, affecting normal life. Ludhiana in Punjab recorded a minimum temperature of 0.4 degree Celsius and the national capital 4.2 degrees, lowest of the season so far.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Punjab had a tough day with many of its cities recording temperatures well below normal. While Ludhiana recorded a minimum temperature of 0.4 degree Celsius, Amritsar was fractionally higher at 0.6 degree Celsius.
Delhi residents woke up to a chilly morning with mercury dipping to 4.2 degrees Celsius, four degrees below the normal. It was lowest of the season so far. Last year the minimum temperature Dec 19 was 7 degrees and in 2005 it was 3 degrees Celsius.
Maximum temperature of Delhi Wednesday was 22.4 degrees Celcius. On Tuesday, the city had a minimum of 4.4 degrees and a maximum of 22 degrees Celsius.
“The city recoded the minimum temperature of the season so far. Since Sunday, the city is in the grip of cold spell and the situation may not improve soon,” said an IMD official.
Meanwhile, people were seen enjoying soft sunshine in parks and on rooftops. They lit bonfires in the morning to beat the cold.
“Since Sunday, it’s too cold here and me and my family members are not stepping out without wearing at least two sweaters. Tea and coffee has almost become essential for us every morning and evening,” said Sailabhanu Sahoo, a resident in south Delhi.
According to met officials, Delhi will witness mainly clear sky Thursday but it may turn partly cloudy by evening. There will be shallow fog and the minimum temperature would hover around 5 degrees Celsius.
Like Punjab and Delhi, other north Indian states too experienced cold spell. While Ambala in Haryana had the lowest of 1.8 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal level, Ganganagar in Rajasthan reported a minimum of 3 degrees.
Lucknow was 3.6 degrees Celsius, Shimla 4.2 had degrees, Patiala saw the mercury touching 2 degrees, and Dehradun had 6.1 degrees Celsius.
The Kashmir Valley went below freezing point with Srinagar Wednesday recording a minimum was -2.4 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 4.2 degrees Celsius.