NEW DELHI, Dec 26:
Piercing cold wave conditions continued unabated across north India today with the mercury dipping substantially in Haryana, where two persons died of cold, even as thick cover of fog severely affected road and rail traffic.
Nearly 100 trains were either cancelled or delayed in the northern region due to low visibility caused by dense fog.
Delhiites woke up to another chilly morning with the minimum temperature settling two notches below the season’s average at 6.3 degrees Celsius. The maximum in the national capital stood at 16 degrees Celsius.
Moderate to dense fog engulfed Delhi and its neighbouring areas disrupting rail and road traffic. While eight trains were cancelled, 79 were running late. Several trains have been rescheduled due to late running of the corresponding train.
Bitting cold wave swept across Punjab and Haryana with mercury dipping in most areas. Two unidentified street-beggars were suspected to have died of cold in Ambala. Police have recovered the body and sent for post-mortem.
Thick fog, which has in the past few days affected normal movement of road, rail and air traffic, also prevailed at most places in the two states early today.
Minimum in Chandigarh settled at 5 degrees Celsius, even as freezing cold swept throughout the day. Narnaul in Haryana recorded minimum temperature at 2 degrees Celsius.
In Ambala, it was 5.9 degrees and 6 degrees in Karnal. Amritsar in Punjab also reeled under cold weather conditions with the minimum settling at 4.8 degrees.
Intense cold wave and dense fog also prevailed in Uttar Pradesh. Night temperatures were recorded appreciably below normal in Varanasi, Faizabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Moradabad and Agra divisions, according to the MeT department. Agra was the coldest in the state with the mercury dipping to 3.3 degrees.
Severe cold conditions continued to prevail over parts of Rajasthan, where four trains were cancelled and more than 15 trains were running late due to dense fog.
In the desert State, Pilani recorded a minimum of 1.3 degree Celsius followed by Churu at 1.5 degrees. State capital Jaipur was shivering as the mercury dipped to 5.7 degrees Celsius. (AGENCIES)
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