Cold conditions prevail in north India; fog engulfs parts

Cold conditions continued in northern India today and a blanket of fog enveloped several parts of the region affecting road and rail traffic.

Dense fog shrouded several parts of the national capital in the morning hours delaying 80 trains with cold conditions continuing in the city.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 8.2 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average while the maximum temperature was pegged at 20.3 degrees, also a notch above the normal, a MeT department official said.

Visibility was recorded at 50 metres at 5.30 AM at Palam which marginally improved to 150 metres at 8.30 AM. It further improved to 1,000 m at 11.30 AM, the official said.
 

The night temperature remained below freezing point in Kashmir as the cold wave conditions continued, even as the mercury went up at most places in the Valley where the Meteorological department has forecast an end to the prevailing dry spell next week.

Night temperatures across Kashmir Valley, except the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, rose last night, providing slight relief to the residents from the cold wave conditions.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius -- up from the previous night's minus 4.3 degrees Celsius.

The mercury went down by nearly a degree in Leh to settle at minus 11.5 degrees Celsius. The town was the coldest recorded place in the state. The nearby Kargil town registered a low of minus 10.2 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' considered the harshest period of winter, when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

Minimum temperatures across Punjab and Haryana hovered a few notches above normal, even as fog reduced visibility at some places including Hisar, Karnal, Narnaul, Ludhiana and Bathinda.

Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a low of 8.7 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal.