Monday, January 24 2005 12:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The severe cold wave in North India, triggered by two days of heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal, aggravated yesterday making it the coldest day in the national capital this winter as chill spread to North-East where Gangtok received its first snowfall in 15 years and Darjeeling too was under a thick white blanket.

Almost all parts of Himachal had a clear day though temperature plunged to a bone-chilling -2 C in Shimla, down four degrees since Saturday (Jan 22, 2005), after two days of heavy snowfall.

Key tourist resorts of Manali, Kufti, Dalhousie and Solang remained cut off as major roads like Indo-Tibet NH (National Highway) and Kullu-Manali road and other link routes remained under heavy snow. Minimum temperature in tribal valleys of Lahaul, Spiti and Pangi ranged between -16C and - 28C.

Lashed by rains, the mercury in Jammu fell by four degrees below normal to 4.7 C and Srinagar and adjoining areas were buffeted by icy winds pushing night temperature to 0 C.

Chandigarh, where the mercury dropped 3 degrees below normal at 4.6 C, recorded a rainfall of 17.2 mm while Ambala, Hisar, Amritsar and Patiala also received 17mm- 30 mm rainfall.

Delhiites continued to reel under biting chill, as minimum temperature remained three degrees below normal at 6.5 C. while maximum was 15.3 C. The cold wave worsened by 0.3 mm of rain early morning and sun playing hide and seek.

Sikkim capital of Gangtok experienced its first snowfall in 15 years while 'queen of the Himalayas', Darjeeling, was covered with six inches of snow.