Chandigarh cold sets new 7-year record

CHANDIGARH - Chandigarh Tuesday witnessed the coldest day in the past seven years. The maximum temperature recorded here was 8.6 degrees Celsius.

In the process, it broke the seven-year “lowest maximum” record that had been set Monday, with 9.4 degrees Celsius.

According to officials of the health department, so far eight people have died because of the cold in neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. Five of these deaths were reported in Haryana while three occurred in Punjab.

The harsh weather conditions have hampered the daily life of the people, especially those of road-side vendors and students.

“I have to reach my tuition class at 6 a.m. and it is really difficult to pedal a bicycle against the cold wave. In a bid to cope with this cruel weather, these days I wear a double layer of woolens and gloves besides a heavy jacket,” Jasbir Singh, who is preparing for engineering entrance exams, told IANS.

Ram Niwas, a cycle-rickshaw puller and a native of an Uttar pradesh town, told IANS: “If on one side we are facing difficulty due to this intense cold then on the other we have also lost a huge chunk of our business. Roads bear a deserted look most of the times these days.”

“In search of our customers, we come out of our homes early in the morning and have to remain out till late hours but unfortunately, our daily business has reduced to just 25 percent as compared to normal days,” said Shyam Lal, another rickshaw puller here.

The weatherman here does not see any respite from the cold and has predicted a further dip in the mercury in the coming days.

“This is the coldest January in the past many years. Due to this weather, I am forced to open my stall late in the morning and to also close it early in the evening. Everyday I pray before god for bright sunshine,” said Rohit, who runs a roadside tea stall at nearby Zirakpur town in Punjab.