Mercury dips in most parts of north, mild snowfall in Manali

Temperatures dipped in most parts of North India today though the national capital witnessed a warm and pleasant day, as Himachal Pradesh's higher reaches including famous hill resort Manali received mild snowfall.
In Delhi, shallow fog in the morning gave way to a slightly warm day with minimum temperature recording at seven degrees Celsius, one notch below the season's average.
The maximum temperature in the national capital was recorded at 19.5 deg C, according to the Met department.
In the Kashmir Valley, cold wave intensified its grip as the minimum temperatures dropped in most places, even as some parts received light rainfall last night.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, recorded a low of 0.4 degree Celsius last night, down from 1.2 degree C the previous night, a Met Department official said.
He said the mercury in Qazigund - the gateway town to the Kashmir Valley - settled at minus 1.6 degree C, as against the previous night's minus 1.1 degree C. The official said the town received 9.0 mm of rainfall.

The temperature in the tourist resort of Pahalgam, in south Kashmir, decreased by over four degrees to register a low of minus 10.2 degrees C compared to minus 5.7 degrees C previous night. The resort received 9.8mm of rainfall during the night.

Leh, in Ladakh region, recorded a low of minus 9.2 degrees as against minus 9.0 degrees the previous night.
Kargil was the coldest recorded place in the state as the mercury went down by over two degrees to settle at minus 17.8 deg C compared to the previous night's minus 15.4 deg C.
In Himachal Pradesh, the biting cold wave conditions sweeping most parts of the state aggravated as mercury dropped following moderate snowfall in tribal areas and other higher reaches.
The minimum temperature dipped to 1.1 degree C at Shimla which was lashed by icy winds, accompanied by sleet and rains while key tourist spot of Manali shivered at minus 4.5 degree C after another spell of mild snowfall.