Cold conditions intensify in Punjab, Haryana

Cold conditions today intensified in Punjab and Haryana with mercury dipping by up to three notches below normal, with dense fog disrupting traffic in morning, met officials said.

Amritsar remained coldest in the region with a minimum of 3.3 degrees Celsius, one notch below normal, weathermen said.

Chandigarh recorded its coldest night of the season at 5.4 deg C, two notches below normal, while in Karnal mercury dipped 3 degrees below normal to settle at 4 deg C, they said.

Besides intense cold, fog in morning disrupted normal life at several places, including Karnal, Patiala, Rohtak, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Hisar, by reducing visibility to a few metres only, officials said.

Among other places, Hisar recorded a low of 4.7 deg C, two places below normal, followed Ludhiana at 4.8 deg C.

Ambala settled at a low of 4.5 deg C, which was two notches below normal, whereas Patiala in Punjab shivered at a 5.9 deg C.

While Bhiwani settled at a low of 6.6 deg C, the minimum temperature of Rohtak was 7.3 deg C, the met department said.

At least 2 persons have died due to cold in Jalandhar district of Punjab in the last 15 days.

The weather department said further dip in temperatures are expected in the region for the next two days with mist and fog at most places in morning.