The Hindu : New Delhi News : Mercury rises mildly in North

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Mercury rises mildly in North

NEW DELHI, DEC. 30. Temperature rose marginally in most parts of North India, including the National Capital, today giving people some respite from biting chill even as cold wave conditions continued in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh claiming five more lives. Toll in cold-related death rose to 63 in Uttar Pradesh with three more people dying in Varanasi and one each in Pratapgarh and Bareilly since last night. However bright sunshine in the afternoon caused slight increase in the day temperature.

Temperature rose in Punjab and Haryana by two degrees with Met office predicting a hail or thundersquall even as foggy condition in Ambala, Adampur, Sirsa and Bathinda continued to disrupt normal life. Amritsar was the coldest with a low of two degrees celsius. The mercury rose by about three degrees in Chandigarh with the city recording a low of 7.2 degree celsius, three degrees above normal.

Temperature went up by two to four degrees in several parts of Rajasthan. Lowest minimum temperature of 6 C was recorded at Ganganagar followed by eight degree at Churu, 9 C at Sawai Madhopur and 10 C at Pilani. I

n the National Capital, minimum temperature rose by two degrees to stand at 6.1 C as a sunny morning greeted the Delhiites after several days of fog.

In Himachal Pradesh, the tribal valleys and other higher reaches groaned under arctic conditions with temperature ranging between -15 and -23 C following fresh snowfall while mid and higher hills experienced mild showers. Temperature in capital Shimla rose by one degree to 11.1 C.

The local meteorological office described the rise in minimum temperature and fall in maximum temperature in Shimla and parts of Himachal Pradesh as normal phenomena prior to snowfall as thick cloud make the nights warmer. The Parashar lake in Mandi district and Manimahesh lake have froze due to extreme low temperatures while the other natural lakes, springs and rivulets and long stretch of Chandra Bhaga river were already frozen. The tribal valleys of Lahaul, Spiti and Pangi were cut off by road from rest of the state due closure of high mountain passes following heavy snowfall. However, continuing foggy conditions over the northern plains caused over ten planes to run hours behind schedule, official sources said.

Upper reaches of the Kashmir valley also experienced fresh snowfall since early today, leading to a fall in the temperatures and disrupting road links.

Baramulla and adjoining areas had fresh snowfall resulting in severe cold disrupting life, reports said. Border areas of Gurez, Keran, Karnah and Machil also experienced snowfall.

The world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg and Khilanmarg witnessed fresh snowfall. The Zojila pass, the highest point on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, which was closed for six months last month, also had about one foot snowfall since last night.

Eight trains had to be cancelled yesterday because of fog and other operational reasons, a Northern Railways spokesperson said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section