DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Severe cold wave swept Haryana and Punjab on Wednesday, with Amritsar reeling at 2 degrees Celsius. Maximum and minimum temperatures dropped several notches below normal limits across the two states and their common capital Chandigarh, according to the Meteorological Department here. Amritsar in Punjab recorded a low of 2 degrees Celsius. Amritsar also experienced piercing cold during the day with maximum temperature settling at 8.2 degrees C, which was down by 13 notches against normal, making the holy city even colder than Manali, Shimla and Srinagar, which recorded respective maximums of 10.4 degrees Celsius, 11.7 degrees Celsius and 10.4 degrees Celsius, the MeT department here said. Among other places in Punjab, Ludhiana recorded a low of 6.2 degrees Celsius, down one notch while the maximum temperature settled at 11.9 degrees Celsius, down 10 degrees. Patiala recorded a minimum of 6.5 degrees Celsius, down one degree while maximum settled at 13.8 degrees Celsius, eight below normal limits. Cold wave swept Narnaul in Haryana, which recorded a low of 3.4 degrees Celsius, down three notches while Hisar's minimum settled at 4 degrees Celsius, five below normal. Ambala, Bhiwani and Karnal also experienced the chill recording respective minimum temperatures of 5.5 degrees Celsius, 5.9 degrees Celsius and 78.6 degrees Celsius. Ambala, Hisar and Karnal also recorded below normal maximums at 15.6 degrees Celsius, 15 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius, respectively. Chandigarh recorded below normal minimum and maximum temperatures at 6.2 degrees Celsius and 16.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to the MeT department, severe cold weather conditions are likely to continue over the next two days in Haryana and Punjab. (editor@dailyworld.in)