It was freezing cold at most places as minimum temperatures dropped well below the sub-zero mark.

However, the Meteorological Department here held out some hope for the people, saying a western disturbance was approaching the region and temperatures could climb by Friday.

Adampur was the coldest in Punjab, recording a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, seven degrees below normal range. Amritsar, where two unidentified persons died due to cold yesterday, continued to brave extreme chill at minus 1 degrees Celsius, down five degrees from normal. Halwara, too, saw the mercury settle at minus 1 C.

Ludhiana also froze at minus 0.1 degrees Celsius, down six degrees while piercing chill swept Patiala at 1 degree Celsius, which was also down six degrees, according to the MET.

Both Pathankot and Bathinda registered a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius each.

The minimum recorded at Chandigarh was a bone-chilling 2 degrees Celsius, four below normal.

Today, Ambala saw the mercury drop eight degrees lower than normal to settle at minus 0.5 C. Intense chill gripped Karnal at 0.2 C, down seven degrees while Narnaul had a low of 0.5 C, down four. Rohtak was reeling at a low of 1.9 C, down four while Hisar registered a low of 4.5 C.