INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
recorded its coldest December day in the last four years with the weather office predicting further dip in temperature over the next two
days.The fall in temperature is because of cold wave conditions prevailing over northwest India, the MeT Department said, adding that the
temperature is likely to fall further till December 22.The maximum temperature was 22.3 degree Celsius, normal for this time of the year
The minimum, however, was four notches below the season's average
Minimum temperature in December dipped to today's level last in 2014.The humidity oscillated between 100 and 42 per cent.The Met office has
forecast clear skies for Friday along with moderate fog in the morning and haze and smoke thereafter."Cold wave conditions are likely at
The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover at 22 and 4 degree Celsius, respectively," the weather office said.On Wednesday,
the minimum temperature settled at 5.2 degree Celsius, while the maximum temperature was recorded at 22.3 degree Celsius.Cold wave
conditions prevailed in north Indian states on Thursday and most parts of Punjab and Haryana recording temperatures lower than hill station
Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.Delhiites woke up to a chilly morning even as Shimla recorded a low of 6.3 degrees Celsius, higher than the
minimum temperature in the national capital, the Meteorological (Met) Department.Thursday saw cold wave conditions intensify in Kashmir as
the minimum temperature dropped at most places and residents in some areas of the city reported freezing of water supply lines.The night
temperature dipped drastically in Leh district of Ladakh region as the mercury plunged nearly nine degrees Wednesday, the Met Department
said.The mercury fell from minus 6 degrees Celsius on the previous night to minus 14.7 degrees Celsius, a Met official said.In Srinagar --
the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- the night temperature stood at minus 4.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, he said.The normal for
this time of season in the city is minus 1.5 degrees Celsius.The official said Qazigund -- the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir
-- recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while nearby Kokernag town registered a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius and Kupwara in
north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius Wednesday night, he said.The night temperature in Pahalgam, which serves as one of
the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius Wednesday.The ski-resort of
Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius last night, the official said.The normal for this time
of the winter in the twin resorts is minus 4.4 degrees Celsius and minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, respectively.Cold conditions are expected to
intensify as the valley braces for the harshest 40-day winter period called 'Chillai Kalaan', which will begin on Friday.In neighbouring
Punjab and Haryana, the minimum temperatures hovered below normal limits at most places, the weatherman said.Dense fog led to reduced
visibility at many places, including Patiala, Ludhiana, Pathankot, Adampur, Hisar and Ambala.Adampur in Punjab was the coldest place in the
two states, recording a minimum temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius, he said.The night temperature in Ludhiana was recorded at 2.3 degrees
Celsius, Bathinda reeled at 2.9 degrees Celsius, Amritsar at 3.6 degrees Celsius, Halwara at 4.4 degrees Celsius, Patiala at 5.6 degrees
Celsius and Pathankot at 5.5 degrees Celsius, the weatherman added.In Haryana, Hisar was the coldest place, recording a low of 2.1 degrees
Celsius, while Narnaul settled at 2.5 degrees Celsius, Ambala at 3.7 degrees Celsius, Rohtak at 3.2 degrees Celsius, Sirsa at 4.6 degrees
Celsius and Karnal at 4 degrees Celsius, all below normal for this time of the year.Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states,
recorded a low of 5.6 degrees Celsius.The minimum temperatures at most places in the plains of Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh,
