North India remains in grips of Cold Wave and Snowfall

New Delhi: Northern India is fully in the grip of cold wave conditions today with widespread snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh even as a few places in the plain areas were hit by showers. Delhi woke up for a second day to cloudy skies and hazy weather with chilly winds bringing down the mercury in the national capital. All the flights between Delhi and Leh were  cancelled due to fog.                        
New Delhi yesterday recorded the season’s least maximum temperature of 15.9 degree, six notches below normal.  According to the weatherman, cold conditions will prevail in the national capital for some time due to snowfall in the upper Himalayas.  The minimum temperature for tomorrow is forecast to be 11 degrees celcius and the maximum temperature is forecast to be 17 degree celsius.

Tourist resorts of Shimla, Manali and Chail experienced first snowfall of the season while lower areas of Himachal Pradesh were drenched by widespread heavy rain.  The sprawling Dhauladhar ranges, donning a mantle of snow, presented a dazzling view while Kangra valley and other lower hills received widespread heavy rain.

Uttrakhand is also reeling under severe cold conditions with snowfall in higher reaches of Garhwal region and heavy and scattered rain in various parts of Kumaon region.  High altitude areas of Garhwal and Kumaon received snowfall whereas intermittent rain lashed the plains including Dehradun and Haridwar. As a result of this cold wave condition is prevailing in plain and hilly areas.

In Uttrakhand fresh snowfall in the higher reaches and intermittent rains in the plains since morning brought back chilly conditions. Normal life has been affected at many places of upper reaches due to heavy snowfall in high altitudes of Chamoli and Uttarkashi district of Garhwal region. Badrinath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Roopkund, Hemkund Sahib and Valley of Flowers of Chamoli district; and Chakrata, Mussorrie of D ehradun district in Garhwal division experienced the first snowfall of the season. Hill districts of Kumaun division are also under the grip of severe cold. Flow of tourists in Mussorrie has increased to enjoy the first snowfall of this season.