North India continued to reel under an intense cold wave as minimum temperatures dropped drastically across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Delhi registered a minimum temperature of 6.1 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Ludhiana in Punjab shivered at 2.8 degrees Celsius overnight.
Haryana’s Hisar and Bihar’s Gaya recorded lows of 4.2 degrees and 6.3 degrees Celsius respectively. Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut settled at 7.2 degrees.
The cold conditions prevailed as light rain has been forecast for Delhi-NCR on Friday night. Temperatures are expected to witness a bigger fall post-December 25, as per IMD scientists.
Ludhiana in Punjab records a minimum temperature of 2.8°C.
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023
Hisar in Haryana 4.2°C
Chandigarh 6°C
Lodhi Road area in Delhi 6.1°C
Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh 7.5°C
Gaya in Bihar 6.3°C
Churu in Rajasthan 3.8°C
Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh 6.5°C pic.twitter.com/fAAxCT8uOI
Delhi already logged a ‘very poor’ Air Quality Index of 340 amid low visibility due to moderate fog. Similar conditions persisted in other northern states as well.
#WATCH | Delhi wakes up to a thin layer of fog as mercury dips with the advent of winter.
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023
(Drone visuals from the Ring Road near Bhikaji Cama Place, shot at 7:15 am) pic.twitter.com/iGAsD8wlnE
The ongoing cold wave is likely to intensify further as winter tightens its grip. IMD has said minimums may continue dropping through the next few days across the Indo-Gangetic plains.
People have been advised to take precautions while venturing out early in the morning and late evening due to lower visibility caused by dense fog cover. Night shelters are also witnessing a surge in people taking refuge amid the harsh weather.
