Chandigarh, Jan. 5 -- Enveloped in dense fog, the city recorded its coldest day of the season on Sunday as the maximum temperature dropped sharply to 12deg Celsius. This marked a decline of 2.4degC from Saturday's 14.4degC, making it the lowest maximum temperature recorded so far this month and 6.2degC below the seasonal average.

The minimum temperature remained nearly unchanged at 9.2degC, dipping marginally by 0.1degC over the past 24 hours and standing 2degC below normal. The maximum and minimum temperature had a difference of only 2.8degC on Sunday.

Surender Paul, director of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Chandigarh centre, attributed this to obscure weather conditions. The absence of sunlight and continuous cloudy sky...