North India Copes with Cold Wave as Temperatures Rise in Kashmir, Rajasthan

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A cold wave gripped northern states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh on Monday, but some areas like Kashmir and Rajasthan experienced a slight rise in temperatures. Delhi, however, was shrouded in a thick layer of smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 417, classified as 'severe'. The Met centre in Shimla predicted that cold wave conditions will persist in Himachal Pradesh, issuing a yellow alert for severe cold in isolated areas. Kashmir Valley, currently in the midst of Chilla-i-Kalan, a 40-day period of extreme cold, witnessed a slight reprieve as minimum temperatures rose. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, up from minus 4.7 degrees Celsius the previous night. Other areas in the Valley, such as Sonamarg, Shopian, and Pulwama, experienced temperatures ranging from minus 4.7 to minus 8.3 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Amritsar was the coldest, recording a minimum temperature of 2.9 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. Rajasthan, on the other hand, has started to see a rise in temperatures, with most cities recording minimum temperatures above 10 degrees. Jaipur, the state capital, recorded a minimum temperature of 13.7 degrees Celsius on Monday morning. Meanwhile, the Met centre in Shimla predicted that a fresh spell of snowfall and rain is likely to hit the state from Thursday to Saturday due to an intense western disturbance. A yellow alert has been issued for several districts on Thursday and Friday, warning of heavy snowfall and rain in isolated places. The national capital's air quality is expected to remain in the 'severe' to 'very poor' categories for the next two days, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System. The outlook for the subsequent six days states that the air quality will likely be in the 'very poor' band.