Dense fog claims 9 lives in UP, winter chill returns in Bihar

Dense fog claimed nine lives in Uttar Pradesh as similar conditions prevailed in most parts of northern India where Leh in frontier Ladakh region froze at a low of minus 13 degrees Celsius today.
Foggy conditions were witnessed during the morning hours in Delhi affecting operations of a few flights while delaying 45 north-bound trains and change in schedule of 32 others, even as winter chill made a return in Bihar.
Nine people were killed while six others suffered injuries after a state transport bus hit a jeep near Barabanki in UP due to poor visibility because of dense fog, police officials said.

The minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 9.4 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average, while the maximum settled at 22.3 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.
The humidity oscillated between 100 and 48 per cent.
There were some minor delays in flight operations because of weather but there was no cancellation or diversion due to visibility, said Airport officials.

Srinagar registered a night temperature of 1.9 degrees Celsius, while Leh recorded minus 4.4 degrees Celsius and Kargil shivered at minus 11.2 degrees Celsius, weather officials said.
A thick blanket of fog reduced visibility levels at several places in Punjab and Haryana during the morning, affecting normal life, while the minimum temperatures hovered above normal at most places in the two states.

Chandigarh recorded a low of 9.5 degrees Celsius.
In Haryana, Ambala recorded a low of 10.1 degrees Celsius, while in Hisar and Karnal registered a low of 7.5 and 8 degrees Celsius.
Amritsar in Punjab registered a low of 6.9 degrees Celsius, while Ludhiana, Patiala recorded 8.2 and 9.7 degrees Celsius.
The mid and higher hills and tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh continued to reel under piercing cold wave conditions as night temperaturesstayed below normal and high altitude tribal areas groaned under arctic conditions with mercury staying 16 to 21 degrees Celsius below freezing point.
Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti recorded a minimum temperature of minus 11.8 degrees Celsius, while Kalpa and Manali recorded a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius followed by Bhuntar (3.0) Sundernagar andSolan (both 4.0), Shimla (4.9), Palampur (5.0), Nahan and Dharamsala (both 7.4) degree and Una (7.6).

The maximum day temperatures rose by two to three notches as Unarecorded a high of 24.8 degrees Celsius followed by Sundernagar (21.7), Bhuntar (21.2), Solan (19.4), Nahan (18.3), Dharmsala (15.2), Shimla (15.1), Manali (13) and Kalpa (4.2).
The MeT office in Shimla has warned of heavy rains or snow at isolated places in mid and higher hills later this week.
In Rajasthan, Sriganganagar remained the coldest place, recording a minimum of 4.4 degrees Celsius followed by Pilani (8.1), Churu (8.6), Dabok (9), Bikaner (10.6), Jaisalmer (11.8), Jaipur (12.1) and Kota (13.2).