Severe cold conditions have tightened their grip over North India following snowfall in the hills and icy winds in the plains. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 3°C, the lowest since 2013. Eight states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab, are under cold wave alert.
Cold Wave Alert Issued Across North and East India
New Delhi: North India is currently reeling under severe cold. Continuous snowfall in the mountains and cold northwesterly winds have caused temperatures to drop sharply in the plains. The cold has disrupted daily routines in several states, including Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Bihar. Chills have increased in the morning and night, while dense fog is also causing problems.
The cold in the national capital has broken a 12-year record. The minimum temperature in the Palam area was recorded at 3.0 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 2013. Morning temperatures in many areas of Delhi remained below 5 degrees. Despite bright sunshine during the day, the cold continued, and the maximum temperature was recorded at 18.8 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees below normal.
The Meteorological Department has issued a cold wave alert for the next three days in eight states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Assam. Cold day conditions persist in many areas. The department has warned that dense fog is likely in the morning, disrupting road and rail traffic.
Minimum temperatures were recorded below zero in many areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Pratapgarh in Rajasthan recorded a temperature of minus 2 degrees Celsius, and Barmer minus 1 degree Celsius. Bathinda in Punjab was the coldest, recording a minimum temperature of 1.6 degrees Celsius. Hisar in Haryana recorded a temperature of 2.2 degrees Celsius, while Narnaul, Faridabad, and Rohtak also experienced severe cold.
In view of the severe cold, schools up to grade 8 in Delhi and Gautam Buddha Nagar have been ordered closed until January 15. In Ghaziabad, classes up to the 8th grade are also being conducted online. The administration has advised children and the elderly to exercise special caution.
According to the Meteorological Department, dense fog and cold waves are expected to continue in North India until January 17th. People have been advised to wear warm clothing and avoid unnecessary travel to protect themselves from the cold.
