Cold tightens grip across northern region

Most parts of north India shivered today with the national capital recording the season's lowest temperature as fog disrupted normal life in some places.

People in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh witnessed another chilly day, as the minimum temperature hovered between 1 and 3 degree Celsius below normal, Met office said.

A thick morning fog reduced visibility considerably in some parts of the region, disrupting normal life.

Rohtak remained the coldest place in Haryana, with a low of 3.2 degree Celsius, three notches below normal, while Ambala and Karnal recorded 5.7 and 6.1 degrees Celsius respectively.

Amritsar recorded a minimum of 3 degrees Celsius, while Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Patiala braved an identical low of 6.6 degree Celsius, one notch each below normal.

In the national capital, mercury plummeted to the season's lowest of 7.4 degree Celsius, one notch below normal.

Delhi is likely to get chillier ahead of Christmas with the weatherman predicting minimum and maximum temperatures falling below average levels.

Meanwhile, Jammu witnessed the coldest night of the season as the minimum temperature fell to 4.6 degree Celsius – four notches below normal, while it recorded a day temperature of 18.5 degrees, Met office said.

In Kashmir, most parts were reeling under sub-zero temperature, with Pahalgam hill resort in the southern region of the state recording a low of -5.2 degrees Celsius.