Cold wave sweeps across Haryana, Punjab

CHANDIGARH - Cold wave conditions continued to sweep through most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh city Monday, forcing people in the plains to don more layers of woollens and jackets.

There was respite from fog Monday but overcast conditions prevailed in this region.

Haryana’s Narnaul town was the coldest in the region Monday. It shivered at a low of 2.6 degrees Celsius that was around five notches below what is normal for this time of teh season in these areas.

Ambala, Hisar and Karnal towns of Haryana recorded minimum temperatures of 7.3, 5.6 and 8.6 degrees Celsius respectively Monday morning.

Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded a minimum temperature of 8.7 degrees Celsius.

The Chandigarh administration extended the winter vacations for primary classes, in both private and government schools here, till Jan 9.

“Cold wave ia sweeping across the region. Today, Ambala witnessed fog whereas it had lifted in other areas. We are expecting overcast conditions to prevail for the next couple of days,” a Met department official said here Monday.

Rail traffic started inching towards normalcy in the region whereas flights were again falling behind the schedule Monday.

“Today most trains were on time. We are expecting the situation to improve further in the coming days,” a railway official said here Monday.

Punjab was comparatively warmer.

Amritsar recorded a minimum temperature of 7.4 degrees Celsius Monday morning.

Ludhiana and Patiala cities recorded lows of 8.9 and 7.6 degrees Celsius respectively.