Rains dip minimum temperature in Chandigarh, neighbouring states

Chandigarh, Jan 17 (IANS) Chandigarh and various parts of Punjab and Haryana have been receiving moderate to heavy showers since Friday, sharply decreasing the minimum temperature, weather officials said Saturday.

Overcast conditions prevailed in the region Saturday morning with a mild drizzle in various areas here.

'The whole region is enveloped in a blanket of overcast conditions. We observed variation in rainfall in the region, as there was heavy rain in some parts while in some it was moderate. This cycle will continue for the next three-four days,' Chatar Singh Malik, director of meteorological department in Chandigarh, told IANS.

'Although this season we had a comparatively warm winter, but now there will be a drastic dip in the both day and night temperature due to the rains,' Malik said.

The minimum temperature in Chandigarh Saturday was recorded 12 degrees Celsius. Amritsar in Punjab recorded a minimum temperature of 4.4 degrees Celsius.

The minimum morning temperature in Shimla was at 8.7 degrees Celsius, according to the official.