While the Delhi recorded a low of 2.6 degrees Celsius, Kargil was freezing at minus 2.2. “Temperatures will drop further and we will not be surprised if it goes below one degree Celsius,” said an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official.

Snowfall and rain in the Himalayan region, especially in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, are responsible for the chill in the capital. “The breeze blowing from northwest India is helping the weather conditions here as well,” the official said.

Kashmir valley, reeling under another spell of bone-chilling cold, had the minimum temperature in Srinagar falling to minus 5.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

“We have been experiencing cloudless skies for the past more than a week that causes fall in temperatures,” said an official of the weather department in Srinagar.

He predicted no respite from the cold wave and said: “Same weather conditions are likely to continue for a few days more.” Adampur at minus 5.2 on Tuesday morning broke a 36-year-old record of lowest temperature in the north Indian plains. Amritsar was also freezing at minus 2.4 degrees, six degrees lower than average. Chandigarh was slightly warmer at 1.6, four degrees below normal.

Punjab's industrial hub Ludhiana recorded a low of one degree and Patiala was chilling at 0.8 degree. In neighbouring Haryana, Karnal was the coldest at minus 0.3, again seven degrees below average. Residents of Lucknow also fought chilly conditions as mercury plummeted to a minimum of 4.4 with overcast conditions.

Visitors to the Taj Mahal shivered in the long queues at the entrance to the monument. The cold wave has taken its toll on tourists in the city. “The farmers are spending sleepless nights fearing frost and fog which could damage not just the potato, but also wheat and mustard,” officials said.

Residents in Shimla awoke to a third consecutive chilly morning. While Monday recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, Tuesday was a tad warmer at minus one degree Celsius.