Hisar records coldest December day since 1973; crop yield expected to take a hit

Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, December 31

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The bone-chilling cold broke a 47-year-old record in Hisar as the city reported a minimum temperature of -1.2 degree Celsius, eight degrees below normal.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that it was the coldest day of December in Hisar since 1973 when the mercury was recorded -1.5. Shimla was much warmer at 3 degree Celsius.

Residents woke up to ice-cold weather coupled with dense fog which disturbed the normal life in the region. Hisar was the coldest place in Haryana and Punjab even though mercury also went down to the sub-zero point of -0.5 degree Celsius in Haryana’s Narnaul and zero degree Celsius in Punjab’s Bhatinda. Hisar’s maximum temperature too was 14.4 degree Celsius, five notches below normal.

The sub-zero temperature is likely to damage the vegetables and rabi crops including mustard, gram except for wheat. Milch animals are also suffering due to the extreme cold as the milk yield has gone down due to the severe cold.

Rajesh Beniwal, a horticulture farmer of Shahpur village, who has a guava orchard in the village, said that the frost and low temperature has damaged the flowers and is likely to cause losses in the fruit crop.

Sant Lal, a small dairy owner of Sundawas, said that milk yield of buffalos has gone down due to the cold even though he made elaborate arrangements to protect the cattle.

Dr Rajender Singh, an animal husbandry expert said that sub-zero temperature in winter season badly affects the dairy animals.

“Consequently the animals often go off feed, feverish and pneumonitic. This affects the milk production, health and reproduction of the animal. The dairy animal should be fed balanced ration comprising of dry matter and water should be clean and available four times a day possibly lukewarm at their drinking time”, he said adding that proper shelter to protect from night cold and ensure sunlight during day time, sanitation and vaccination.