Cold wave tightens grip across North India

Cold wave tightened its grip across parts of north and west India with most of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir Valley receiving snowfall and rain. 

In Himachal Pradesh, mercury dropped by few notches and tribal and high altitude areas froze under sub-zero temperatures. The region received widespread rain since yesterday and snowfall occurred at isolated places and key tourist resort of Manali.

In Jammu & Kashmir, the latest spell of snowfall in Srinagar and other areas has affected the normal activities across Kashmir Valley. The Srinagar Jammu national highway shall remain closed for the 3rd consecutive day today. State Meteorological Department has forecast light rain and snowfall at most places in Kashmir Valley and several other areas across the State till today evening. Kashmir University has suspended class work in all teaching departments and campuses for ten days till 29th January. All University examinations scheduled to be held today and tomorrow have also been postponed.

National Capital Delhi continues to reel under the



cold wave conditions with mercury plunging to new levels. The day temperature yesterday plunged to a two-year low. The maximum temperature was recorded 15.7 degrees Celsius which more than 4 degrees Celsius below normal. According to Met Department, the chill in northwest India is being caused by a cold air outbreak from the north, in the aftermath of a western disturbance passing through the region. The spell is likely to last another two-three days. Five trains are arriving late, eight are rescheduled and one was cancelled due to foggy weather conditions. Two international and nine domestic flights were delayed due to fog. 

Intense cold conditions also continue in Rajasthan. Ground frost occurred at isolated places over south Punjab, south Haryana and north Rajasthan. Dense and very dense fog occurred over west Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab. Cold conditions continued in Odisha affecting normal life in many parts of the state, with Phulbani in Kandhamal district registering the lowest temperature at 6.8 degrees Celsius.