Cold wave intensifying in north India; snowfall, heavy rainfall warning in Himachal

New Delhi, December 10

The cold wave intensified in north India on Tuesday, forcing Jammu and Kashmir government to shut schools early in Kashmir and winter-zone areas of Jammu, and the weather office in Himachal Pradesh to issue a ‘yellow’ warning for heavy rain and snowfall in the hills this week.

The maximum and minimum temperature in Delhi too dipped to 22 degrees Celsius and 9 degrees Celsius, respectively, and a meteorology department forecast said the night temperature will further decrease to 7.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

A J&K government spokesman said all state-run education institutes and recognised private schools up to Class 12 will remain shut from December 10 to February 22. The schools usually close for winter vacation after December 15. The spokesman said the decision was taken in view of foggy weather and forecast of a further dip in temperature and heavy snowfall next week.

The Kashmir administration has deployed 154 snow clearance machines across the Valley.

The mercury continued to stay below sub-zero in most of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Drass, the second-coldest inhabited place in the world, was the coldest place recorded in the region at minus 19 degrees Celsius, though an improvement from the previous night’s minus 21.4 degrees Celsius.

A western disturbance is likely to affect the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh between December 10 and December 14, causing widespread snowfall, a weather department advisory said.

In Himachal Pradesh, the Met department said heavy rain and snowfall are expected in the hills until December 16, while thundershowers may lash the plains from December 11 to 14. It issued the least dangerous ‘yellow’ warning to ensure people remain alert.

Lahaul and Spiti’s Keylong recorded the lowest temperature in the state at minus 6.3 degrees Celsius.

Fog in several areas in Punjab and Haryana reduced visibility, restricting movement of vehicles. Adampur in Punjab was among the coldest places in the state at 3.2 degrees Celsius.

In Haryana, Hisar was coldest with a minimum temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius.

Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a low of 7.7 degrees Celsius.

Pilani was the coldest place in Rajasthan with a minimum of 6.8 degrees Celsius as cold conditions persisted in the state.

Uttar Pradesh was cold but dry. Muzaffarnagar (5.5 degrees Celsius) recorded the lowest temperature in the state. Shallow to moderate for was witnessed in many parts of the state.

The weatherman has forecast dry weather in the state for Wednesday too, but rain/thundershowers are very likely in western Uttar Pradesh on Thursday and Friday. PTI