By IANS
New Delhi : The capital woke up Thursday to a slightly higher minimum temperature than the day before, at two degree Celsius, but the cold comfort could hardly relieve anyone of the shivers.
In comparison to Wednesday’s 1.9 degree Celsius, Thursday’s 2 degrees might sound like good news, but Delhiites hardly felt the difference.
Animika Dutt, a homemaker living in east Delhi, told IANS: “Is it really better than yesterday? I don’t believe it. This morning I woke up because my feet were numb in the cold. I have started sleeping with the hot water bottle near my feet, just to keep myself warm. But last night even that didn’t help.”
In contrast to last year’s Jan 3 when the minimum temperature was 6 degrees Celsius, this year the mercury has dipped quite a bit – a good five degrees below normal.
“Today’s minimum temperature was five degrees below normal. The severe cold wave is here to stay for some more days,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
“It’s going to be colder in the coming days. The cold spell in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, Rajasthan and Punjab is certainly affecting the weather in Delhi,” the official added.
Wasil, who is on a visit to Delhi from Hyderabad, said it is becoming difficult for him to tolerate the cold.
“In Hyderabad the weather is very pleasant. But Delhi’s cold has come like a rude shock to me. It’s been three days since I have come here and I have literally bundled myself in all the woollens that I have,” he said.