Amritsar recorded its coldest day ever on Thursday as the minimum temperature plunged to -2.6° Celsius, eight degrees below normal.
The cold wave sweeping most parts of north India intensified and Ambala recorded a low of 3.6° C, down three degrees, while Karnal was also colder by three degrees at 4.1° C, according to the meteorological department in Chandigarh.
Ludhiana and Patiala recorded minimums at 4.6° C and 4.7° C, respectively.
There was little respite for Kashmiris.
In Srinagar, residents groaned under a sub-zero temperature of -3.8° C, down two degrees.
Jammu also had a cold night at 5.3° C, down three.
In Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded 0.2° C, 0.6° C and 0.6° C, respectively.