Jharkhand swept by cold; mercury dips to 1 degree celsius

Cold conditions swept Jharkhand, as the mercury dipped to one degree celsius at Kanke near the state capital, for the second time this winter.

"Jharkhand is in the track of winds that blow from North-west to South-east and there is heavy snowfall in the norther states," weather scientist of Birsa Agricultural Univerisity A Wadood said explaining the cold wave conditions sweeping the state.

Kanke, which recorded a minimum of one degree celsius in December, would continue to be under similar conditions for a couple of more days, he said.

State capital Ranchi recorded a minimum of 4.5 degrees celsius, while mercury plunged by few notches in other parts of the state as well, reports said.

Asked whether there was any chance of the mercury plummeting to zero degree in Kanke area this season, Wadood said "we cannot rule out as this season has seen unprecedented snowfall in various places outside the state."