CHANDIGARH: The mercury further dropped in Punjab and Haryana but hovered two degrees to seven degrees Celsius above normal even as a dense fog enveloped many areas in the north-west region today, affecting road and rail traffic.

The fog reduced visibility considerably forcing vehicular traffic to move at snail's pace with headlights on in the morning.

The visibility was reduced to zero at Ambala, Srinagar, Sirsa and Sarsawa and upto 100 metres at Chandigarh, 200 metres at Bhatinda, 600 metres at Hindon, 700 metres at Palam in Delhi and 800 metres at Pathankot.

Several long distance passenger trains passing through the Ambala railway system were running one hour to more than five hours behind schedule. These included Sealdah- Jammu Tawi, Howrah-Kalka, Amritsar-Howrah, Ferozepur-Dhanbad, New Delhi-Bhatinda and Jammu Tawi-Guwahati.

The temperature further dipped at Amritsar and Ludhiana in Punjab, respectively recording 3.6 degrees and 9.5 degrees celsius, three degrees above normal.

However, Patiala showed slight increase to 10.8 degrees from 10.5 degrees registered yesterday.

In Haryana, the mercury also fell at Ambala and Hissar, each recording 11.7 degrees Celsius. While Ambala showed five degrees above normal, Hissar reported seven degrees up. Karnal recorded 12.2 degrees, five degrees above normal.

Cold wave conditions persisted in several areas in Himachal Pradesh where the temperature continued to stay below freezing point in tribal areas.

Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded a low of 5.0 degrees which was four degrees above normal while Sundernagar in Mandi district showed 6.8 degrees against yesterday's 8.7 degrees. The temperature remained almost static at state capital Shimla recording 3.5 degrees, one degree above normal.

The entire Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of cold wave with Srinagar recording minus 1.0 degrees, one degree below normal. The mercury further dipped to 6.5 degrees at Jammu.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were shrouded in a thick fog in the morning which, however, cleared as the day advanced. The mercury fell by three degrees to 9.4 degrees, two degrees above normal, in the city.

The temperature also plummeted in New Delhi to 11.6 degrees from 14.4 degrees recorded yesterday.

The Weather Office has predicted light to moderate rain or snow at few places in Himachal Pradesh, light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab and fog and low clouds in Haryana during the next 24 hours. - UNI

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