North India endures intense cold wave; Christmas snowfall misses Srinagar, Shimla
In Kashmir, the harsh winter period known as Chillai-Kalan has plunged temperatures well below normal.
NATIONAL
A severe cold wave continues to grip North India, with temperatures plummeting across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Popular tourist destinations like Srinagar and Shimla, however, missed out on the charm of a white Christmas.
In Kashmir, the harsh winter period known as Chillai-Kalan has plunged temperatures well below normal. Srinagar recorded a biting low of -7.3°C, freezing water bodies like Dal Lake and water supply lines. Gulmarg, a skiing haven, saw temperatures rise slightly to -6.6°C from the previous night's -7.4°C.
Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district reported the coldest temperature at -10.6°C in Tabo. Snowfall in the region led to the closure of 134 roads, including three national highways.
In Delhi, the maximum temperature touched 22.4°C on Christmas Day, slightly above average, while the minimum was recorded at 8.4°C, below the seasonal norm.
Despite the bone-chilling weather, tourists expressed disappointment over the lack of snowfall in Srinagar and Shimla during the festive season. Meanwhile, meteorologists predict further dips in temperatures over the next few days, intensifying the cold wave.