NEW DELHI, Dec 25: North India is currently enduring severe cold wave conditions on Wednesday, while tourists in popular destinations such as Srinagar and Shimla are missing out on a “white Christmas”.
Srinagar registered a low of minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, with Tabo in the Lahaul and Spiti district experiencing the coldest temperature in Himachal Pradesh at minus 10.6 degrees Celsius. Cold conditions are also prevalent in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
On Christmas Day, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius, which is two degrees above the seasonal average, while the minimum temperature was noted at 8.4 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees below normal.
In Kashmir, minimum temperatures have fallen across most areas, with the valley grappling with severe cold, causing several water bodies and supply lines to freeze.
The Meteorological Department has forecasted a decrease of two to three degrees in minimum temperatures in Kashmir over the next couple of days.
Aside from Gulmarg, night temperatures have significantly dropped at other weather stations throughout the valley.
Currently undergoing the ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the harshest winter phase lasting 40 days that commenced on December 21, the Kashmir valley is experiencing both maximum and minimum temperatures that are below normal for this time of year, officials reported.
The drop in temperatures has resulted in frozen water supply lines and a thin layer of ice covering the surfaces of several water bodies, including Dal Lake.
Interestingly, the city was colder than Gulmarg, a resort town in North Kashmir famous for skiing, where temperatures rose slightly to minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, up from minus 7.4 degrees Celsius the previous night, according to the department.
Tourists expressed disappointment over the lack of snowfall in Srinagar this Christmas. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir has yet to see any snowfall this season.
“We had a good time and enjoyed ourselves. There’s no danger, and people live in harmony as we celebrated Christmas,” said Poonam, a tourist visiting from Jammu.
“It is chillier. Kashmir used to have snowy Christmases, which were wonderful, but this year, there has been no snowfall in Srinagar, and people are struggling. We hope for significant snowfall,” she added.
The snowfall in Himachal has resulted in the closure of 226 roads, including three national highways, according to officials.
Residents felt the sting of the cold wave as minimum temperatures fell a few degrees in Jot, which received 10 cm of snow in the past 24 hours.
According to the state emergency operation center, 123 roads were shut in Shimla district, 36 in Lahaul and Spiti, and 25 in Kullu.
Additionally, 173 transformers were disrupted, affecting power supply throughout the state.
The hopes of locals and tourists for a white Christmas in Shimla, the Queen of Hills, faded as the city welcomed sunny weather on Wednesday morning.
The Meteorological Department has predicted rain and snow at isolated locations in some areas, particularly in Shimla, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, with precipitation expected to peak on Saturday.
Many regions in Rajasthan were shrouded in dense fog as cold conditions persisted on Wednesday.
In the previous 24 hours, light rain was reported in one area of eastern Rajasthan, while fog and dense fog were observed across numerous sites. A ‘cold day’ was recorded at various locations in western Rajasthan.
Cold weather conditions also continued in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday, with Faridkot recording the lowest minimum temperature at 4.2 degrees Celsius, according to the meteorological department.
In Punjab, Amritsar registered minimum temperatures of 5.4 degrees Celsius, while Gurdaspur and Amritsar reported 5.5 and 5.7 degrees Celsius respectively.
In Haryana, Narnaul was notably the coldest spot, with temperatures dropping to 5.2 degrees Celsius, while Hisar, Karnal, and Sirsa reported 6.8 and 8 degrees Celsius respectively, and Gurugram saw temperatures at 9.3 degrees Celsius.
Chandigarh, the joint capital of the two states, noted a low of 7.4 degrees Celsius.
The weather cleared across Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday afternoon after two days of rain attributed to western disturbances, according to MeT officials.
The light rain on Monday and Tuesday resulted in fog and a noticeable drop in temperatures, further intensifying the cold over the past 48 hours.
The India Meteorological Department forecasts a return to clear weather on Thursday before rains resume on December 27.
On Wednesday morning, Lucknow experienced 0.5 mm of rainfall, resulting in a temperature drop of 1.5 degrees Celsius during the day. (PTI)
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