Weather conditions worsened across north and northwest India as two active western disturbances brought rainfall, snowfall and dense fog. The western Himalayan region witnessed fresh snowfall, while plains experienced drizzle, cold winds and severe fog reducing visibility to near zero in some areas.
Snowfall in Himalayas, Dense Fog in Plains
New Delhi: The activation of two western disturbances in northwest India has once again worsened the weather. Light to moderate rain and snowfall were recorded in the western Himalayan regions, while drizzle, cold winds, and dense fog disrupted normal life in the plains. Although temperatures have increased slightly, the cold wave continues to cause a chilly effect.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense to very dense fog enveloped many parts of Punjab, Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh on Sunday night and Monday morning. Visibility dropped to less than 50 meters at some locations. Visibility dropped to zero at Sarsawa, Agra, and Hindon Air Force Base in Uttar Pradesh, disrupting road and air traffic.
Light to moderate rain and snowfall occurred at many places in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, and Himachal Pradesh. Fresh snowfall was recorded in the high altitude areas of Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. Nearly 90 centimeters of snow has accumulated in the Rohtang Pass area, forcing the Atal Tunnel to be temporarily closed.
A jeep carrying vegetables skidded off an icy road and fell into a ravine in the Tosh area of Manikaran. One person died in the accident. The continuous snowfall has closed many rural roads and disrupted normal life.
Despite a slight increase in minimum temperatures in Punjab and Haryana, the cold wave continues to persist. Sirsa in Haryana was the coldest on Monday, recording a minimum temperature of 6.6 degrees Celsius. The cold winds have increased the thawing.
The IMD has issued a warning for thunderstorms and lightning in parts of eastern Rajasthan, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and central Maharashtra. The Meteorological Department has urged people to avoid outdoor activities and exercise extreme caution while working in the fields. Dense fog is expected to persist in some areas until February 5th.
