Cold wave grips North India
Leh town in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday saw mercury nosediving to this winter’s lowest of -23.6ºC as an intense cold wave gripped northern India, claiming at least eight lives.
“Leh recorded a minimum temperature of -23.6ºC which is the coldest this winter,” a Met department official said.
The cold wave has also intensified in Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir and Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, where mercury plunged 12 degrees below freezing point — the coldest night in both the tourist spots this winter.
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, was freezing at -7.4ºC while Kokernag town in Anantnag district recorded a night temperature of -6ºC.
Srinagar, which saw a minimum of 0.8º above melting point of ice on Saturday, plunged to -2.4ºC.
Meanwhile, two-way traffic has resumed on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only road link between Kashmir and rest of the country.
Delhi shivered on yet another cold morning as the maximum dropped to 14.6ºC, six degrees below normal for this period of time, while minimum was recorded at 7.8º, one degree above normal, the MeT office said.
Five more deaths were reported in different parts of Uttar Pradesh as mercury dipped sharply due to showers at a few places in the state taking the toll to 24.
While a 70-year-old man and a two-year-old boy died in Bahraich and Farukkhabad districts respectively, one death each was reported from Sitapur, Mahoba and Chitrakoot due to cold in the last 24 hours, official sources said.
Three deaths were reported from Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite a clear and sunny day, mercury dropped further in Himachal Pradesh where all the major towns in lower hills reeled under the cold wave.
Water in taps froze at many places in lower and mid hills and thick ground frost occurred in mid and higher hills.
Shimla recorded a low of 1.7ºC. Keylong, headquarter of tribal Lahaul and Spiti district experienced its coldest night with temperature dipping to -12.9ºC. Chandigarh recorded a low of 8.6ºC.
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