Cold conditions prevail across North

Cold conditions prevailed across North India on Tuesday even as fog continued to affect road and rail traffic in some parts. The national capital experienced a relatively warm day with maximum temperature settling at 24.2 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal. The minimum temperature was recorded at 10.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average. Foggy conditions were witnessed in the morning which resulted in delay of 14 Delhi-bound trains, while seven trains remained cancelled as announced earlier. Fog affected operations of some flights but there was no diversion or cancellation of any air service. Minimum temperature in most places of Kashmir division stayed below the freezing point with the MeT department forecasting moderate to heavy snowfall tomorrow under the influence of Western Disturbance. A MeT official in Srinagar said widespread snowfall or rains are expected for the first two days followed by scattered rain or snow. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.8 degrees Celsius. The denizens of Ladakh, however, got some respite from the bone chilling cold as Leh recorded a minimum of minus 6.6 - an increase of almost two degrees compared to yesterday's minus 8.4 degrees Celsius. Kargil town remained the coldest recorded place in the division with a low of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam hill resort recorded a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, while the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg registered its minimum at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius. Kokernag town in south Kashmir was the only place in the division where the minimum settled above the freezing point. Meanwhile, cold weather conditions prevailed at many places in Punjab and Haryana, with Amritsar recording the lowest temperature at 4 degrees Celsius. Union Territory of Chandigarh recorded a low of 7.8 degrees Celsius. Night temperature in Narnaul, Karnal and Hisar settled at 6, 6.4 and 7.2 degrees Celsius, respectively. Ambala recorded a low of 10 degrees Celsius. In Rajasthan, weather remained cold while dense fog disrupted road and rail services in northeast region of the state. Churu was the coldest place in the state at 6.3 degrees Celsius, a MeT official said in Jaipur. Sriganganagar recorded a minimum temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Sikar 6.6, Chittorgarh 7.7, Udaipur 7.8, Tonk 7.9 and Jaipur 9.2 degrees Celsius. Owing to fog, nine trains were running late, North Western Railway CPRO Tarun Jain said.