Fog cripples life in Punjab, Haryana; two perish due to cold

CHANDIGARH: Dense fog crippled the normal life in most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today affecting air, rail and road traffic with mercury plunging up to six degrees Celsius below normal in the region where two persons died due to cold.

A heavy fog reduced visibility to just 500 metres in the region, the MeT office said here.

In the wake of thick blanket of fog in the region, the air, rail and road traffic was adversely affected with several trains running behind schedule and some flights being cancelled. The motorists moved at a snail's pace on the roads in view of low visibility.

The minimum temperature in most parts of Punjab and Haryana hovered between one degree Celsius above normal to six notches below normal, the MeT office said.

Meanwhile, in view of intense cold conditions sweeping the region, a middle aged person was found dead at Ambala city railway station on Friday, officials said, adding that the police suspect the unidentified person died due to severe cold.

Another body of an unidentified woman was found adjacent to a pond in Ambala city, officials said, adding that she had also died due to cold conditions.

Narnaul continued to be the coldest place in the plains of Punjab and Haryana with a low of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, six notches below normal.

Adampur in Punjab braved a low of 0.6 degrees Celsius followed by 1.4 degrees Celsius at Amritsar, two notches below normal.

Among other places, Ludhiana reeled under a low of three degrees Celsius, three notches below normal followed by 4.7 degrees Celsius at Hisar.

While Chandigarh settled at a low of 5.2 degrees Celsius, the minimum temperature at Patiala was 5.5 degrees Celsius, one notch below normal.

Bhiwani recorded a low of six degrees Celsius whereas Ambala settled at a low of 6.5 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal.

The MeT forecast foggy conditions in the region with drop in night temperatures during the next 24 hours.