NO RESPITE FROM COLD IN REGION; KEYLONG, KALPA, MANALI SHIVER AT SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES

NEW DELHI: Cold wave conditions intensified in the northern belt of India even as Keylong, Kalpa and Manali in Himachal Pradesh continued to shiver at sub-zero temperatures on Monday. Keylong, the administrative centre of the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, continued to be the coldest place in the state at minus 13.1 degrees Celsius, Shimla MeT centre director Manmohan Singh said. Kalpa and Manali recorded a low of minus 3.3 and minus one degree Celsius, respectively, he said.

Minimum temperature dropped below normal at many places in Punjab and Haryana, with the mercury in Bathinda dropping as low as 0.7 degrees Celsius. A thick blanket of fog again engulfed most places in the states in the morning, reducing visibility levels, meteorological department officials said.

The India Meteorological Department said Delhi is in for another cold wave with the minimum temperature likely to drop by four degrees Celsius over the next two-three days.

Cold conditions intensified in Kashmir as the minimum temperature dipped at most places following snowfall over the weekend, officials said. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, down from minus 1.9 degrees Celsius the previous night. South Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably, leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the Dal Lake, as well as water supply lines in several parts of the Valley.