Delhi and several northern states shivered under severe cold on Monday, with the minimum temperature in the national capital plunging to 3.2 degrees Celsius, the season’s coldest, prompting cold wave alerts and school closures in some areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that the freezing is likely to persist over the next few days, with severe cold wave conditions expected in isolated pockets across northern India.

While cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are forecast over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on January 12 and 13, dense fog is expected in northwest India and Bihar for the next five days.

Severe cold swept across northern India. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand reported sub-zero temperatures, while Punjab and Haryana saw mercury hovering near freezing. Bathinda recorded 1.6 degrees Celsius, Hisar 2.2 degrees, and Narnaul 3 degrees Celsius. Dense morning fog reduced visibility in several areas, affecting travel and daily life.

In Punjab, Faridkot recorded 2.9 degrees, Ludhiana 4.6 degrees, Patiala 3.8 degrees, Amritsar 3.2 degrees, and Gurdaspur 3.8 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh registered 5 degrees Celsius, while Ambala, Faridabad, and Rohtak saw lows of 5.5, 4.2, and 4 degrees Celsius respectively.