Dense fog engulfs parts of north India

Dense fog engulfed several parts of north India as a severe cold wave swept through the region, dipping minimum temperature to 1.1 degrees Celsius in Delhi. The fog lowered visibility to "zero" metres, affecting traffic movement. On January 8, 2006, Delhi had recorded a minimum of 0.2 degree Celsius. The all-time record is minus 0.6 degrees Celsius registered in January, 1935. The lowest minimum temperature recorded in January last year was 2.4 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Chandigarh and most of the plains in Punjab and Haryana were on Friday colder than the 'Queen of Hills' -- Shimla. The reason: the sun is shining brightly in Himachal Pradesh these days while a thick blanket of fog refuses to lift off from most parts of the northern Indian plains. Many places on the plains -- Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala and Hisar were colder than hilly tourist destinations Shimla, Kufri, Dharamsala and Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh, the Met Office in Chandigarh said.