India, Dec. 27 -- Punjab and Haryana were gripped by severe cold on Friday, though the minimum temperatures stayed above the season's normal in several places.

With a minimum temperature of 5.5 degrees Celsius, Narnaul in Haryana was the coldest place among the two states, according to the local meteorological department.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a low of 8.7 degrees Celsius, 5 degrees above the season's average, while Ludhiana and Patiala recorded minimum temperatures at 8.4 and 7.7 degrees Celsius respectively, around two notches above normal, the Met office said.

Pathankot recorded a minimum temperature of 6.2 degrees Celsius and Bathinda recorded a low of 8.2 degrees Celsius, while Gurdaspur and Faridkot recorded 6 and 8.5 degr...