Intense cold wave conditions continue to prevail over northern parts of the country including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
The intensity of cold wave in the National capital, Delhi has increased with the night temperature coming to three degrees below the normal. The minimum temperature recorded on Sunday is five degree Celsius.
AIR correspondent reports, the Delhiites have been experiencing the coldest conditions with the mercury touching five degrees Celsius, the lowest of the season so far. The cold wave coupled with fog has not only disrupted the rail, road and air traffic but also severely affected the normal life in the national capital.
Over 70 trains to and from Delhi are running late while a number of domestic and international flights have been delayed. With the foggy conditions resulting in poor visibility, the vehicular traffic was seen operating head lights even during the day time.
Meanwhile, the local markets witnessed sudden spurt in business for woolens with vendors doing brisk business selling them for higher price. The bad news for travellers is that the foggy conditions are likely to continue on Monday also.
In Punjab and Haryana, Adampur near Jalandhar shivered in a minimum of 1.2 degree Celsius and has remained the coldest in the plains followed by Ambala and Amritsar. Chandigarh has also registered below five degrees Celsius. Although, it was a sunny day but early morning chill and pulmmeting evening temperatures force people to be indoors.
The Met Dept has predicted ground frost at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana. Fog is also expected at many places in both the states during morning and late evening.
The cold wave conditions claimed six more lives in Uttar Pradesh taking the toll in the state to 26, with dense fog hampering movement of road and rail traffic. One person reportedly died each in Pratapgarh, Deoria, Barabanki, Ballia, Basti and Lucknow due to cold.
According to the MeT office cold wave conditions continued to prevail in the state as night temperature fell appreciably in Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Lucknow divisions.
The weatherman said, Meerut was the coldest place in the state with a minimum temperature of 2.2 degree Celsius. He said fog would occur in Monday morning in most parts of the state.
AIR Gorakhpur correspondent reports, even bonfire is not giving enough respite due to bone chilling wind. The poor and resource-less people are the worst affected lot who are spending restless night on railway platforms or under the tin sheds of closed shops. Schools up to eighth standard have been closed till Wednesday in view of cold. The rail, road and air traffic is affected due to dense fog for past 4 days. The met office has predicted cold wave and foggy condition to continue for next couple of days and further drop in night temperature in certain pockets of the state.
In Uttarakhand, winter has become harsher in the hill areas as mercury dropped by up to four degree Celsius in the night.
AIR correspondent reports, in Udhamsingh Nagar twelve devotees of Uttar Pradesh were killed when their vehicle fell down in a river after breaking a bridge’s railing due to dense fog. District administration has banned the movement of heavy vehicles to check the road accidents due to foggy weather conditions. Met department predicts that dense fog will prevail in plain areas of the state in coming 24 hours.
