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North India continues to reel under a severe cold wave accompanied by dense fog, severely affecting daily life and transport. According to the India Meteorological Department, visibility dropped to zero in several parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh.
North India Battles Intense Cold as Visibility Drops to Zero in Many Areas
New Delhi: North India is currently reeling under severe cold. Minimum temperatures have dropped close to the freezing point in many areas. The intense cold wave, coupled with dense fog, is severely disrupting normal life. The drastic drop in visibility has affected road, rail, and air traffic. Meanwhile, snowfall in the Western Himalayas is expected to further intensify the cold in the plains in the coming days.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, dense fog in Amritsar, Adampur, and Pathankot in Punjab, Chandigarh, and Hindon and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh recorded zero meters on Friday morning. Visibility in Varanasi and Jammu was around 200 meters, while in Kanpur and Gorakhpur it reached 400 meters. Several areas in South India, including Tiruchirappalli, were also enveloped in dense fog during the morning.
Bhiwani in Haryana was the coldest place with a minimum temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Delhi experienced some relief on Friday from the four-day cold wave. Sunshine and a slower wind speed eased the chill. The minimum temperature in the capital was recorded at 4.3 degrees Celsius and the maximum at 22.9 degrees Celsius.
In view of the severe cold, the Gautam Buddha Nagar district administration has taken a major decision. All schools up to grade 8 in the district, including Noida and Greater Noida, have been ordered closed until Saturday. However, teachers have been instructed to remain present in schools.
According to the Meteorological Department's forecast, a cold wave is likely to hit some areas in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand over the next one or two days. Dense fog is also likely to prevail in northwest India and Bihar for the next five days.
President Draupadi Murmu's visit to Jalandhar has been cancelled due to bad weather. The President was scheduled to attend the convocation ceremony of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology as the chief guest.
Fresh snowfall occurred in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh due to the influence of a western disturbance. Light snowfall was recorded in Sonamarg, Gurez, Zojila, Sadhna Top, and Rajdan Pass. Shinkula, Baralacha, and Kunzum Passes in Himachal Pradesh were also covered with snow. Meanwhile, Shimla remained sunny, with the minimum temperature recorded at 10.5 degrees Celsius, one of the warmest nights in January.
