Mercury drops to 2 degree centigrade.

LAHORE -- Dense fog and severe cold wave continued to disturb routine life in parts of the country, including Lahore, on Monday, with experts seeing no respite from the prevailing harsh weather over the next couple of days.

In Lahore, mercury dropped to 2 degree Celsius, making Monday the coldest day of the ongoing winter.

Less duration of sunshine due to dense fog and winds helped maintain the mercury to a low level, making weather chilly during the day and at night.

Skardu remained the coldest place in the country where mercury dropped 21C below the freezing point. Minimum temperature in Gupis was recorded:11C, Astore and Bagrote:10C, Kalat:6C, Kalam, Gilgit and Parachinar:5C, Bannu:4C, Chillas, Murree and Quetta:3C.

Harsh weather conditions forced people to stay indoors, resulting in thin traffic on the otherwise busy roads in the morning. Excessive use of heaters at offices and homes led to low gas pressure at homes. In certain localities, women faced difficulties in cooking meals for families.

Fog started falling in the evening and became so dense at mid night that visibility reduced to zero in open areas. Dense fog again forced closure of portions of Motorway at around midnight. The...