Chandigarh, January 6
North India continued to remain in the grip of severe cold wave today, with 23 more persons succumbing to the chill in various parts of the region.

Fifteen more persons died in Uttar Pradesh due to intense cold conditions, taking the toll in the state this winter to 155. At least six persons succumbed to the chill in Punjab and Haryana, where normal life remained affected due to biting cold and thick fog cover. While four persons died in Amritsar (Punjab), one each was killed in Hisar and Narnaul (Haryana), officials said.

Hisar recorded an all-time low of minus 1.1°C, six notches below normal. It was after 10 years that the temperature in Hisar had stooped to sub-zero levels, said Met Department officials.

Karnal and surrounding areas also experienced the coldest day in five decades with mercury dipping to minus 0.2°C. The town had experienced the coldest day with mercury plummeting to minus 0.1°C in January 2006, breaking the five-decade-old record, but last night was even colder. The temperature had dropped to 2.6°C on Saturday, but it today fell by 2.8°C to enter sub-zero zone.

The MeT office said there was no hope of any immediate relief from cold wave as fog and frost would keep the temperatures low, causing damage to crops.

Not only Hisar and Karnal, but several other parts of Haryana were also in the grip of severe cold wave, they added. Narnaul zipped down to 0°C this morning, Rewari recorded lowest temperature at 0.8°C followed by Bhiwani at 1.6°C and Ambala at 3.5°C.

Punjab, on the other hand, has been slightly better in terms of the lowest temperature. Patiala remained the coldest in the state with 3.5°C. It was followed by Amritsar with 4.4°C and Ludhiana with 4.2°C.

Delhi shivered at season’s lowest of 1.9 °C, five notches below normal while Chandigarh recorded a low of 3°C.