The intense cold wave conditions aggravated on Sunday in most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh with minimum temperature plunging below freezing point in Hisar and Narnaul, claiming at least nine more lives in the region.
A thick blanket of fog continued to play havoc with normal life in the entire region, even as the meteorological department forecast further drop in minimum temperatures.
Chandigarh recorded a low of 3 degrees Celsius, two below normal. It was the lowest temperature ever recorded in the union territory. Hisar, too, braved an all-time low of minus-1.1, six notches below normal, while Narnaul again registered a low of zero.
Four persons succumbed to the cold wave in Amritsar, four in Hisar district and one in Narnaul, sources said here. From Hisar's Barwala sub-division, a mentally challenged man, a beggar and a patient at a hospital in Agroha succumbed to cold-related illnesses. From Hisar town, the body of a sadhu was recovered on Sunday morning, taking the total number of people falling prey to cold wave in Punjab and Haryana to over 20 during the current winter spell. Of these, 13 have died in Punjab, said officials. PTI
Still shivering
Still shivering
Place Min temp (in °C)
Chandigarh 3
Hisar -1.1
Narnaul 0
Bhiwani 1.6
Ambala 3.5
Ludhiana 4.2
Amritsar 4.4
Patiala 3.5
Services affected
While most flights remained grounded at Chandigarh airport, several trains including Malwa Express, Howrah Express, Shatabdi, Tata Muri Express, Shan-e-Punjab, Barmer, Unchahar Express and Lucknow Mail were running late by several hours. Frequent tripping of power and low water supply added to the woes.