Gujarat reels under cold wave conditions

Respite expected in the next 24 hours

Most part of the state has been reeling under cold wave conditions following heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and other regions of north India.

However, meteorological department officials here said that minimum temperature is likely to go up within the next 24 hours.

The cold wave condition has been sweeping the state for the last few days. Deesa in north Gujarat recorded its lowest temperature""two degree celsius on Sunday.

Met department officials said that the sudden drop in minimum temperature in the state was due to heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir from Friday night.

In Ahmedabad, minimum temperature dropped to as low as 5.6 degrees celsius on Sunday night, which was seven degrees below normal.

"This is the first time in several decades that Gujarat has faced such record low temperature. Earlier in 2000, a minimum temperature of 6.3 degrees celsius was recorded in Ahmedabad due to the northern disturbance," said R K Bakliwal, director of Meteorological Centre, Ahmedabad.

"Dry cold air from J&K has resulted in this kind of sudden drop in temperature. The cold appears to be more severe as the mercury soared and the maximum temperature was recorded at around 35 degrees C just before the cold wave set in. It was the lowest temperature ever recorded in the state," said Bakliwal.

The sudden drop in temperature after a week in which mercury rose upto 35 degree C during the day has caught people unawares. It was three degrees C at Naliya in Kutch district.

Bakliwal, however, said, "From Tuesday, people in the state will find a sunny and warm day and the night temperature is also likely to go up. The weather in the northern region changes very soon and as a result the temperature will become normal in Gujarat too".