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Cold wave sweeps Punjab, Haryana

Several trains on the Delhi-Jammu and Delhi-Amritsar routes running behind schedule

CHANDIGARH: Cold wave in Punjab and Haryana led to further dip in the mercury as foggy weather persisted in many parts of the north-west region on Thursday, affecting train and road traffic.

The temperature hovered one degree to five degrees below normal in the twin States. Dense fog engulfed several areas, including Ambala, Karnal, Patiala and Delhi while Amritsar and Chandigarh reported mist.

Several long distance trains on the Delhi-Jammu and Delhi-Amritsar routes were running two to four hours behind schedule, a report from Jalandhar quoting a railway spokesman said.

While the cold wave has already claimed the lives of 12 people, as many as nine people have died due to fog-related incidents in the region so far.

The cold wave conditions prevailing in parts of Punjab and Haryana are likely to continue for the next two days with possibility of ground frost occurring at few places in these states, according to Weather Office here.

Jalandhar at 1.2 degree Celsius was the coldest place in Punjab as icy-cold winds swept the town last night. Mercury dipped one degree below normal at Amritsar recording 2.5 degree, followed by Patiala, registering 3.5 degree, four degree below normal. Chandigarh and its adjoining areas also reeled under cold wave conditions following further fall in the temperature in the city to 4.0 degree, three degree below normal.

Cold wave lashed tribal areas and mid hills in Himachal Pradesh. However, the temperature rose from 4.5 degree to 5.2 degree at state capital Shimla.

There was no let up in the cold wave sweeping Srinagar where the mercury further dropped to minus two degree Celsius. Jammu also recorded a low temperature at 6.7 degree hovering one degree below normal.

The weather is likely to be sunny in Himachal Pradesh while fog and low clouds are expected over Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

According to a report from Lucknow, the harsh cold refused to loosen its grip on Uttar Pradesh, with the mercury at least 2 degrees below normal, as it claimed four more lives and pushed the death toll to 75 in the State.

Two persons died in Barabanki and two in Bhadohi on Wednesday night due to the biting cold, officials said.

The meteorological office said that foggy conditions prevailed in many parts of the state while Agra, Kanpur and Barabanki recorded the coldest temperatures of 6 .UNI/PTI

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Cold wave sweeps Punjab, Haryana

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