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Severe cold and dense fog continue to grip North India, affecting daily life across several states. Temperatures dropped below 5°C in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, while Delhi recorded intense cold and poor air quality. Dense fog disrupted road and air travel, forcing flight diversions.
North India Gripped by Severe Cold and Dense Fog
New Delhi: Severe cold and dense fog have made life difficult for people across North India, including the national capital Delhi. Minimum temperatures have dropped below 5 degrees Celsius in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand. The cold wave and chilly winds are severely impacting daily life.
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 6.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Along with the cold, pollution has also worsened the situation. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was 390 at 4 PM on Sunday, which falls in the 'severe' category. AQI was recorded at a severe level at 19 out of 40 monitoring stations in the capital. Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 444.
Weather Update: IMD issues cold day and cold wave alert across North India
A cold wave continues to grip several districts of Uttar Pradesh. The minimum temperature was recorded at 6.7 degrees in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, while it was 7.4 degrees in Etawah and 8 degrees in Prayagraj and Jhansi. Considering the severe cold, the state government has ordered the closure of all schools up to class 12 until January 1st to provide relief to children from the cold.
The cold has broken records in several parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Hisar in Haryana was the coldest, recording a minimum temperature of 2.5 degrees Celsius. Faridkot in Punjab recorded a temperature of 3.4 degrees. According to the Meteorological Department, the cold is likely to intensify further in the coming days due to cold winds.
Weather Update: Severe cold grips Kashmir to Darjeeling; Dense fog disrupts life in plains
The cold is even more severe in the hilly states. The temperature in Dras, Ladakh, dropped to minus 14.2 degrees Celsius. Kalpa in Himachal Pradesh recorded a minimum temperature of 0.6 degrees, while Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir saw the mercury drop to minus 2.2 degrees. Icy winds are causing significant difficulties for locals and tourists.
On Sunday morning, dense fog reduced visibility to less than 50 meters in several parts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. This significantly impacted road, rail, and air traffic. Vehicles moved at a very slow pace in many areas, increasing the risk of accidents.
