Cold conditions intensify in Andhra, Chintapalle shivers at 5.8°C

Chintapalle in Vizag Agency experienced the coldest day of the season as the mercury plummeted to 5.8 degree Celsius on Sunday. Chintapalle has a weather station at Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS).

As per the IMD, the lowest temperature of 13 degree Celsius was recorded in Jangamaheswarapuram in Guntur district followed by 13.6 degree Celsius in Anantapur, 14.5 degree Celsius in Bapatla in Guntur district, and 14.8 degree Celsius in Nandigama of Krishna district on Sunday.

The weathermen said that the dip in minimum temperatures in coastal Andhra Pradesh is due to the influence of cold winds from the north and northeast. The IMD forecasted that mercury may further dip in the state in the coming days.

Andhra Pradesh has not experienced any cold wave conditions, though temperature variation is near that mark, said the weathermen. As per IMD's yardstick, if temperatures at a location in the coastal area fall 4.5 degree Celsius below normal, it can be considered a cold wave.

For interior areas, it is 4 degree Celsius. On Sunday, the highest variation in the minimum temperatures — 4.1 degree Celsius — was recorded at Jangamaheswarapuram in Guntur district.

The low visibility due to foggy weather has led to a fatal road accident in Vizag Agency on Sunday morning. One person was killed, and eight others suffered when a Bolero pickup van plunged in a gorge near K Korapalle ghat road under G Madugula Mandal in the district.

The incident took place when a van with 20 people on board was heading towards Lammasingi under Chintapalle from Munchingiput. The driver of the vehicle lost control over the vehicle due to the poor visibility as dense fog enveloped the entire ghat road. As a result, it fell into 10 feet deep gorge.