Chandigarh, Jan 22: Biting cold conditions continued to sweep across Punjab and Haryana on Thursday as several districts recorded temperatures well below the seasonal average. Hoshiarpur emerged as the coldest spot in the region, with the mercury plunging to 3.3 degrees Celsius, according to the Meteorological Department.
The department noted that the severe chill has tightened its grip over the border belt and central districts. In Amritsar, residents faced a harsh morning as the minimum temperature settled at 3.4 degrees Celsius. Other major towns in Punjab also remained under the influence of the cold wave, with Ludhiana recording 4.4 degrees Celsius and Patiala seeing a low of 5.1 degrees Celsius.
A MeT official mentioned that the current weather pattern is typical for this time of year but requires residents to take necessary precautions. Bathinda and Gurdaspur both recorded minimums of 5 degrees Celsius, further illustrating the widespread nature of the dip.
Chandigarh, serving as the joint capital for both states, was not spared from the shivering conditions. The city registered a minimum temperature of 4.8 degrees Celsius.
“The northern plains are experiencing a steady inflow of cold winds, which has kept the minimum temperatures significantly low,” an official from the MeT department said.
In Haryana, Bhiwani was the coldest in the state at 3.5 degrees Celsius. This was followed closely by Karnal at 4.4 degrees Celsius and Hisar at 4.6 degrees Celsius. Further south, Narnaul and Rohtak saw lows of 6 degrees and 6.8 degrees Celsius, while the industrial hub of Gurugram was slightly warmer at 7.8 degrees Celsius.
