Jalandhar/Ludhiana, January 11
There was no respite from the bone-biting chill as cold conditions intensified in most parts of North India with mercury recording a drop of up to three notches below normal.
The icy winds blowing in the region are expected to continue for two-three days more. The met officials predict rain and thundershowers in the next 48 hours.
Amritsar was the coldest place in plains recording a minimum temperature of 1.4 degrees Celsius. While
Adampur and Chandigarh recorded a low of 6 degrees Celsius, Bathinda registered a minimum temperature of 6.4 degrees Celsius.
Night temperature in Kashmir and Ladakh showed an upward trend, while Jammu recorded a drop in mercury at 4 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal. The winter capital of J&K had recorded a minimum of 5.3 degrees Celsius yesterday. Banihal shivered at a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius. The night temperature
in Leh was minus 20 degrees Celsius against minus 21.4 degrees yesterday.
In Haryana, Ambala recorded a minimum of 6 degrees Celsius. In HP, the higher reaches of the state continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures. After 2007, this has been the worst cold in the region. As per weather experts at the met department in Chandigarh, in 2009, the minimum temperature in various districts of Punjab hovered around 4-6 °C, while this year, the minimum temperature came down to 0 degrees in several cities. The severe cold wave conditions have hit life in the region. Daily power cuts for four-six hours have added to the misery of people who can’t use heaters or blowers.
“The power situation is pathetic. We are unable to even get hot water for shower in such cold weather”, rued Komal, a Ludhiana resident.
Also, poultry and dairy farming has been affected as the production of eggs and milk has come down by 10 per cent. Experts have warned farmers to provide warm environment to the cattle and poultry birds to avoid diseases.
Dr SS Nagra of the livestock production management department of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, said animals were suffering from respiratory problems due to the biting cold. “Their immunity comes down and energy requirement increases. The production and growth in poultry also comes down. To save animals/birds from the cold, the farmers need to provide them warm atmosphere,” he said. Only for hosiery manufacturers has the weather been “excellent” as their previous year’s stocks have also been cleared.
Chhatar Singh, met director at Chandigarh, said intense cold wave had gripped the region and no relief was foreseen for at least two-three days. But people would get relief from dense fog by tomorrow. “The region would witness a partially cloudy sky with possibility of rain and thundershowers in the next 48 hours. The cold wave would continue,” said another met official.
