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India is facing an intense winter spell as freezing temperatures hit Himalayan states and dense fog blankets the plains. Jammu and Kashmir recorded the coldest night of the season with water bodies freezing, while Delhi-NCR witnessed light drizzle amid foggy conditions.
Severe Cold Grips India as Temperatures Plunge Across Hills and Plains
New Delhi: Winter has begun to show its fierce form in large parts of the country. From hilly states to the plains, cold, fog, and rain have affected life. The Meteorological Department has clearly indicated that there is little chance of relief from the cold in the coming days. Alerts have been issued for cold wave, dense fog, and rain in many states.
Jammu and Kashmir has recorded its coldest nights so far this season. Temperatures dropped well below freezing in Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg. According to the Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, Pulwama minus 6.8, Shopian minus 7.8, Pahalgam minus 8.6, and Gulmarg minus 9.2 degrees Celsius. The severe cold has caused the banks of many water sources, including Dal Lake, to freeze.
The cold is even more severe in the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley. Temperatures in Drass, Ladakh, dropped to minus 24.7 degrees Celsius. Due to the active western disturbance, light to moderate rain and snowfall are expected in the western Himalayan regions and in the higher reaches.
Temperatures in the Pindar Valley of Uttarakhand's Kapkot region have dropped below freezing. Frost is forming in areas like Khati, Wachham, Borbalda, and Pakuwatop in the morning. People are facing severe difficulties due to water freezing in taps. Meanwhile, icy winds and a cold wave in Haryana have confined people to their homes. The minimum temperature in Narnaul was recorded at 4 degrees Celsius.
Dense and very dense fog is expected in many parts of northern and eastern India for the next week. Visibility may be extremely low in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and eastern Rajasthan, potentially disrupting road, rail, and air traffic.
While North India is grappling with the cold, rain has added to the woes in South India. A depression in the Bay of Bengal is causing heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for these areas, warning of potential disruption to normal life.
