Biting Cold Grips Delhi and North India; Temperatures Near Freezing in Punjab and Haryana

New Delhi: A severe cold wave continues to sweep across northern India, with temperatures in several parts of Punjab and Haryana approaching freezing point. The chill is not limited to the north; eastern states are also experiencing unusually cold weather, leaving residents struggling to cope.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Hisar in Haryana recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2°C on Thursday, while Delhi registered its lowest January temperature since 2023. Other cities in Haryana saw similarly low readings: Narnaul at 1.5°C, Nuh at 4.6°C, Gurugram at 5.3°C, Ambala at 5°C, Karnal at 4.8°C, Faridabad at 4.1°C, and Rohtak at 4.4°C—around four degrees below normal.

Punjab’s coldest spot was Bathinda at 1.6°C. Other readings included Amritsar 5.3°C, Ludhiana 5.2°C, Patiala 5.1°C, Hoshiarpur 4.4°C, and Faridkot 3.5°C. Chandigarh, shared by both states, recorded a minimum of 4.5°C.

In the national capital, the cold wave intensified for the fifth consecutive day. The Safdarjung Observatory recorded a minimum of 2.9°C, marking the coldest morning since January 16, 2023, when temperatures dropped to 1.4°C. Daytime temperatures remained below normal, with Safdarjung registering a maximum of 19.5°C and Palam 16.2°C.

Air Pollution Adds to Winter Woes
Delhi’s air quality remains a serious concern, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reporting a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 349, falling under the ‘Very Poor’ category.

Severe Cold in Kashmir
In Kashmir, temperatures remain well below freezing. Srinagar recorded a minimum of -3.9°C between Wednesday and Thursday, up slightly from -5.2°C the previous night. Many water bodies, including parts of Dal Lake, have frozen due to the extreme cold. Shopian in South Kashmir was the coldest at -6.1°C, with Pulwama recording -6.1°C as well. Pahalgam, a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, registered -5.0°C. The region is currently experiencing ‘Chilla-e-Kalan,’ a 40-day period of intense cold from December 21 to January 30, typically accompanied by snowfall.

Cold Wave Extends to Eastern India
Eastern India is also facing cold conditions. In Jharkhand, Gumla recorded 0.8°C, Khunti 2.7°C, and Daltonganj 3.7°C. West Bengal’s coldest was Darjeeling at 3°C, while the plains saw Sriniketan at 8.8°C. Other low-temperature locations in the state included Bankura (9.2°C), Jalpaiguri (9.5°C), Cooch Behar (9.6°C), Jhargram (9.8°C), and Asansol (9.9°C). Kolkata’s minimum was 13.2°C. Odisha is also battling the cold, with Rourkela at 6.6°C, Udayagiri in Kandhamal 5.2°C, Phulbani 7.3°C, Similiguda in Koraput 7.7°C, Jharsuguda 7.8°C, Angul and Dhenkanal 8.6°C, Keonjhar 9.4°C, Cuttack 10.4°C, and Bhubaneswar 11.8°C. No significant relief is expected in the next two days.

The IMD has advised residents to take precautions as the severe cold is likely to persist, with minimum temperatures remaining well below normal in several regions.