By IANS
New Delhi : People in the national capital swathed themselves in layers and layers of woollens and took every possible opportunity to catch the soft sunshine as the minimum temperature dipped to 2.4 degrees Celsius Thursday, the second lowest of the season so far.
“Today is the coldest Jan 24 in last five years and second coldest day of the season,” an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
“Snowfall in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh is behind this weather in the capital. The wind coming from the mountains is worsening the situation here,” he told IANS.
Since Monday, the capital is in the grip of a severe cold wave with the temperature dipping far below normal.
On Jan 24 last year, the minimum temperature was five degrees Celsius and in 2006 it was six degrees.
On Wednesday, the minimum temperature recorded in the capital had been 3 degrees Celsius.
However, the weatherman did hold out some hope. “This spell of severe cold is expected to end by Sunday,” he said.
Those who had to be outdoors sat around bonfires or tried to catch some sunshine.
“It is too cold and I am not going to the gym for the last three-four days. You just cannot come out of your quilt,” said Shubankar Pradhan, a bank employee.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, a college student, said: “I am taking at least five-six cups of tea a day to beat the cold. Two sweaters, a jacket, cap and hand gloves are must for me before going out of home.”
The coldest day of the season so far was recorded on Jan 2, when the minimum temperature was 1.9 degrees Celsius.