North India shivers under cold condition

New Delhi: An intense cold wave swept through the northern belt with the mercury going several degrees below freezing point in Kashmir, and a thick blanket of fog enveloping Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. An elderly man died due to cold in the Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

In the national capital, dense fog led to the cancellation of six flights and 21 trains. The minimum temperature was recorded at 8.4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum settled at 17.7 degrees, lowest of the season recorded so far.

The visibility in the city was recorded at 800 metres at 5.30 am, which reduced to 300 metres at 8.30 am. It improved to 800 metres at 11.30 am and further to 1,000 metres at 2.30 pm, a MeT official said. Kashmir reeled under extreme cold conditions as the mercury stayed several degrees below the freezing point.

In Srinagar, the mercury showed a marginal upward movement to settle at minus 4.3 degrees Celsius, the official said. Biting cold wave conditions also persisted in most parts of Himachal Pradesh as minimum temperatures dropped further and icy winds swept the region. High altitude tribal areas and other higher hills witnessed another spell of mild snowfall.

Rohtang, Pangi, Drass, Koksar and Bharmaur received 8 cm, 6 cm, 5 cm, 4 cm and 3 cm of fresh snow respectively, while isolated rains took place at some places in mid hills. Moradabad was the coldest recorded city in the state of Uttar Pradesh as dry weather continued its spell in the state that witnessed moderate to dense fog at several places.

According to the meteorological department, day temperatures fell in Varanasi, Allahabad, Lucknow, Bareilly, Agra and Meerut, while mercury took a plunge during the night in Gorakhpur in eastern UP.