Severe cold wave in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh

Punjab and Haryana reeled under intense cold conditions on Tuesday, with their common capital Chandigarh recording a minimum of 2.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest in nine years. Freezing cold swept many places in Punjab, where Ballowal Saunkhri in SBS Nagar recorded 0 degrees Celsius. A weather department official told PTI that Chandigarh had recorded a minimum temperature of 2.4 degrees Celsius on January 11, 2017, and 2.1 degrees Celsius on January 24, 2016.

Chandigarh’s minimum temperature on Tuesday settled four degrees below normal limits, according to the Met. Fog also reduced visibility during morning hours at many places in the two States. Severe cold gripped Amritsar during the day, which recorded a high of 8.1 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal limits.