Chandigarh, Jan 13: An intense cold wave has tightened its grip on Chandigarh and the surrounding regions, with the city recording a minimum temperature of 2.8°C on Tuesday. This significant dip marks a nine-year low for the Union Territory, surpassing the cold levels seen in recent winters and forcing residents to brace for a prolonged icy spell.
The weather department linked the sharp decline to cold winds blowing from the north. While Chandigarh reeled under the chill, several parts of Punjab faced even harsher conditions. Bathinda recorded a low of 1.6°C, while Faridkot and Hoshiarpur registered 2°C and 2.6°C respectively. The freezing trend was mirrored in Haryana, where Karnal saw the mercury drop to 2°C.
“Chandigarh had recorded a minimum temperature of 2.4°C on January 11, 2017, and 2.1°C on January 24, 2016,” a weather official mentioned while comparing the current data to historical lows. The official directly said that the clear skies have contributed to the rapid cooling of the Earth’s surface at night.
The impact of the weather was visible across the city’s infrastructure, with fog and icy winds affecting morning commutes. In Haryana, Gurugram showed a slight rise to 3.3°C compared to Monday’s extreme low of 0.6°C, yet the overall atmosphere remained bitterly cold.
“Homeless shelters witnessed an increased rush,” an official from the local administration said. The official noted that the government is monitoring the situation closely and has advised the public to use adequate warm clothing to mitigate the health risks associated with the plummeting temperatures.
