Chandigarh

Faridkot emerged as the coldest location in Punjab on Saturday, recording a minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees Celsius, as large parts of the state and neighbouring Haryana continued to reel under intense winter conditions.

Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, woke up to dense fog blanketing several areas, with the mercury settling at a low of 7.7 degrees Celsius. Reduced visibility during early morning hours disrupted normal movement and slowed traffic in several pockets of the city.

According to officials from the Meteorological Department, foggy conditions were reported at multiple locations across Punjab, including Amritsar, Patiala, and Ludhiana. Similar weather prevailed in parts of Haryana such as Ambala, Karnal, and Hisar, contributing to a sharp chill and poor visibility.

Bathinda experienced near-freezing conditions with a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. Ludhiana recorded a low of 5.4 degrees, while Patiala registered 5.6 degrees Celsius. Amritsar saw temperatures dip to 6.2 degrees, and Gurdaspur reported a minimum of 6 degrees Celsius.

In Haryana, Karnal recorded the lowest temperature at 4.5 degrees Celsius. Hisar remained in the grip of severe cold, with the mercury dropping to 4.9 degrees. Narnaul registered a low of 6 degrees, while Bhiwani and Rohtak recorded minimum temperatures of 5.5 degrees and 7.8 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Meteorological officials said the prevailing cold wave conditions were due to northwesterly winds and the absence of cloud cover during night hours, which led to rapid heat loss. The cold conditions are expected to persist over the next 24 to 48 hours, with fog likely to continue during early morning hours.

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The biting cold has begun to impact daily life, especially for farmers, daily-wage workers, and homeless populations. Authorities in several districts have stepped up night shelter arrangements and advised people to take precautions against prolonged exposure to low temperatures.