SEASON’S COLDEST DAY AT 2 DEGREE C, LOWEST FOR JAN IN 3 YRS

NEW DELHI: Delhi on Thursday reeled under a severe cold wave as icy winds swept across the city with the mercury plummeting to 2 degrees Celsius in parts of the national Capital, recording the lowest in the month of January in the last three years and the coldest day of the season so far.

The winds continued to make inclement weather more difficult for people, while poor visibility in the morning affected rail services, disrupting schedule of several trains, even as flight services remained unaffected. The Safdarjung observatory, considered official for the city, recorded a low of 3.4 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season’s average, a MET official said.

The Lodhi Road observatory recorded a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius, while areas under Palam, Ayanagar and Ridge logged a minimum of 4.4, 4.9 and 5.5 degrees Celsius, respectively. “Today’s minimum temperature of 3.4 degrees is the lowest in the month of January in the last three years and it is also lowest of the season so far,” Ravinder Bhishen, Director of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, New Delhi said.

“26 trains are running late, eight have been rescheduled and seven cancelled,” a senior railway official said. The visibility was recorded at 300 metres at 5.30 am at Safdarjung and improved to 800 metres at 8.30 am before significantly improving to 1,500 metres at 11.30 am.

At Palam, the visibility was 500 metres both at 5.30 am and 8.30 am. It improved to 1,000 metres at 11.30 am, the official said. The humidity oscillated between 100 and 55 per cent.

With the mercury dipping, the Delhi government has directed the schools run by it to extend their winter break till January 19 in wake of the chilly weather in the national Capital and private schools to take action as per their assessment.

The schools run by NDMC, MCD and Delhi Cantonment Board have been asked to take their own call. While some private schools like Ahlcon International are extending their winter break, some of them like DPS RK Puram which have already reopened are suspending primary classes. Sardar Patel Vidyalaya and Springdales Pusa Road are not making any alterations.

Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate N P Singh also ordered closure of all schools from nursery to 12th standard till January 15.

District Inspector of School Munesh Kumar said all schools affiliated to CBSE, ICSC or UP Board in the district are included in the order.