North India shivers in extreme cold

North India shivered due to bone chilling cold today as minimum temperatures plummeted across the region.

Delhi ushered in the New Year amid extreme cold and dense fog with mercury plummeting to the season's lowest of four degree Celsius.

Today's minimum was three degree Celsius below normal and down from the previous day's minimum of 5.5 degrees, which was the previous lowest for the season. Yesterday, the maximum was recorded at 13.3 degree Celsius, making it the coldest day.

The maximum temperature in Delhi was 15.3 degrees celsius, five notches below normal.

Mercury plummeted in parts of Rajasthan with Churu recording a freezing minimum of 0.7 degree Celsius.

Pilani recorded a low of 1.4 degrees while Sriganganagar had a minimum temperature of 4.3 degree Celsius, according to the Met department here.

The state's capital and Bikaner recorded a minimum temperature of 4.5 degrees.

Chittorgarh had a low of 6.6 degrees, while Dabok recorded 6.8 degree Celsius minimum temperature.

Jaisalmer recorded a low of 7.3 degrees and Ajmer recorded a minimum temperature 7.5 degree Celsius.

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh continued to reel under dense fog and intense cold crippled normal life, with air, rail and road traffic going haywire in the region due to reduced visibility.

A thick blanket of fog enveloped the entire region affecting all modes of traffic, officials said here.

Most of the flights remained grounded at Chandigarh airport and several trains passing through the region, including Howrah express, Malwa express, Tata Moori, Barmer express and Shan-e-Punjab were running hours behind schedule, they said.

The minimum temperatures hovered between one degree Celsius above normal to four notches below normal in most parts of Punjab and Haryana, the Met office said here.

Narnaul was the coldest place in the region recording a low of 0.7 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal.

... contd.

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