Kolkata faces a 102-year-old winter record on wednesday while the city of joy the city shivered at 9°C. The mercury dived to 6.7°C in Dum Dum, the same as January 6, 1901 that holds the record for the coldest day in the city.

Even though, the record remains untouched as the Alipore Met office is the temperature standard. But the icy north-westerly that breezed through the city on wednesday made it seem colder than the 9°C at Alipore. It was also said to be the first time in two years that the city experienced the sub-10 chill. The last time the mercury had fallen below 10 was on January 12, 2011, which recorded 9.9° C.

Moreover, it seems that the chill will continue for at least the next 48 hours. A cold-wave warning has already been sounded for South and North Bengal which are already reeling under cold-wave conditions. While Kolkatans wrapped themselves in woollens and enjoyed the mercury drop, there was a clamour to soak in the sun at parks, the zoo and the Maidan. Pavement-dwellers lit fires to warm themselves in the afternoon - a rare sight in Kolkata.

To conclude, GC Debnath, director Regional Meteorological Centre Alipore, said that the chilly wind is responsible for this sub-10 freeze and it will continue for the next two days.

(AW:Samrat Biswas)