Chandigarh, 26 December 2024: Thursday brought intense cold conditions to Punjab and Haryana, with several areas recording near-freezing temperatures. Chandigarh, the shared capital of the two states, reported a minimum of 7.3 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department.
In Punjab, Pathankot and Faridkot saw the mercury dip to 4 degrees Celsius, making them among the coldest places in the region. Amritsar experienced a chilly night at 5.7 degrees Celsius, while Gurdaspur recorded a low of 6 degrees. Ferozepur and Rupnagar registered 5.7 and 5.9 degrees Celsius, respectively. Slightly milder conditions were reported in Ludhiana and Patiala, where the minimum temperature settled at 7.4 degrees Celsius.
Haryana also endured harsh cold, with Narnaul reporting the lowest temperature at 4.5 degrees Celsius. Sirsa recorded a minimum of 5 degrees, followed by Karnal at 5.5 degrees. Hisar registered a low of 6.9 degrees Celsius, Ambala dipped to 7.6 degrees, while Gurugram’s minimum stood at 8.8 degrees Celsius.
Weather experts attributed the dip to radiational cooling caused by clear skies and still winds. “Nighttime temperatures are plummeting as the current conditions facilitate rapid heat loss from the surface,” an official stated.
The cold spell is likely to persist in the coming days, and residents are advised to take necessary precautions