enjoying bright sunshine for the past two days, the cold wave further intensified here with the minimum dropping to 1.8°C, five degrees below normal. There was no respite from the cold wave for most places in Haryana, with Karnal turning out to be the coldest with a low of 1.3°C. While Hisar recorded a minimum of 3.1°C, Ambala had a low of 3.8°C.
Delhi, also witnessed a cold night at 4°C, three degrees below normal.
While Srinagar witnessed a normal minimum at -2°C, Jammu recorded a low of 3.3°C which is five degrees below normal.
In Himachal Pradesh, state capital Shimla recorded a low of 4.4°C.
Meanwhile, Sundernagar and Bhuntar were under the grip of an intense chill with minimum temperatures of 0°C and 0.8°C.
The Meteorological department said fog had reduced visibility in Udhampur and Adampur(zero visibility), Ambala (800 m) and Palam (500 m).
The cold wave has so far claimed 17 lives in Punjab while four persons have died in Haryana.
SRINAGAR: There was no respite from bitter cold for Kashmiris as the mercury plumetted further with the night temperature being recorded at two degrees below freezing point and the maximum temperature a mere 3°C.
The low temperatures ensured that the icy layer on top of the famous Dal Lake thickened further raising the possibility of a complete freezing of the lake.
The Dal Lake has frozen twice before — in 1964 and 1986 — when a jeep was plied and cricket was played over it.
Meanwhile, a four-member ministerial team today visited Budgam district in central Kashmir to take stock of the road clearance work and
availability water and power supply following the heavy snowfall earlier this week.
The team deputed by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also held a review meeting with the district and sectoral officers, officials said here.
Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Minister for Auqaf Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Power Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora and Urban Development and Forests Minister Tariq Hameed Karra visited Beerwah, Magam and other areas of the district.
The officials said snow had been cleared from 490 out of 575 km of road length in the district while in Chadoora division, the road clearance work was in full swing and expected to be restored within two days.
The ministers directed the agencies to permanently station snow clearance machines at the district headquarters and they were informed that substantial stocks of LPG and kerosene were available in the district at fixed rates.
They were also told that water supply to most of the areas had been restored and the canal feeding Char-i-Sharief and Magam areas had been cleared of snow.
Six tankers had been pressed into service to carry water to those areas facing shortage and two more water carriers were requisitioned, they said.
Sayeed asked the administration to ensure that food and essentials were in adequate supply for the upcoming Id and Muharram.
