Intense cold wave conditions continue in North India

Intense cold wave conditions continued in Northern India with heavy rain and snowfall predicted in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. India Meteorological Department (IMD) said rainfall or snowfall is expected at most places in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh during the next 48 hours due to the western disturbance. Head of Services of IMD, Dr M Mohapatra said, there is also a forecast of rainfall over Punjab, North Haryana, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in next 48 hours.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Srinagar-Leh highway, connecting the frontier Ladakh region with the rest of the state, was closed ahead of expected heavy snowfall. In view of the weather forecast, state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has directed Divisional Administration of Kashmir to be in a state of preparedness. The night temperature dipped at many



places, including Ladakh in the state.

In Himachal Pradesh, the minimum temperature in Keylong was minus 2 degrees Celsius while in Kalpa it was zero degree Celsius. Delhi also experienced a cold day with a minimum temperature of 7.4 degrees Celsius, which was a degree below the season's average. The maximum temperature was 27.2 degrees

Cold weather conditions also prevailed in most parts of Punjab with Bathinda coldest at 4 degrees Celsius. In Haryana, Hisar was the coldest recording a low of 4.8 degrees Celsius yesterday, down four notches against normal.

In Rajasthan, light rains occurred at isolated places in the Jodhpur division and weather remained dry in the rest of the state. The met office said the lowest minimum temperature of 5 degrees Celsius was recorded at Sri Ganganagar.