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North India continues to reel under severe winter conditions as snowfall in the Himalayan states has intensified cold wave conditions across the plains. Dense fog, chilly winds, and below-normal temperatures have disrupted daily life in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir.
Snowfall in Himalayas Brings Tourists Cheer, Plains Shiver in Cold
New Delhi: Winter has once again begun to show its fierce form in North India. Rain and snowfall in the western Himalayan states brought biting cold to the plains, including Punjab, Haryana, and the National Capital Region, for the second consecutive day. Dense fog, cold winds, and a lack of sunshine severely disrupted normal life on Wednesday morning. Road visibility was extremely low, causing significant inconvenience to drivers.
The effects of the severe cold and cold wave were clearly visible in Punjab and Haryana. Temperatures dropped below 10 degrees Celsius in most areas of the state. Amritsar recorded a maximum temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius, while Bathinda recorded the coldest minimum temperature at 4.6 degrees Celsius. Due to dense fog, visibility in many areas dropped to 10 to 150 meters. In view of the severe weather, the Punjab and Haryana governments have extended school holidays until January 13.
The cold wave has intensified in Himachal Pradesh. Minimum temperatures dropped below freezing in many places in Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Mandi, Kullu, and Shimla districts. Waterlogging on roads has increased the slippery conditions, making travel risky. In Keylong, HRTC buses were unable to start due to the severe cold. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for dense fog in seven districts until January 11.
Fresh snowfall has occurred in Bhaderwah and higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir. The snow-capped views in areas like Guldanda, Panj Nala, and Chattargalla have attracted tourists. However, traffic has been temporarily halted on some sections of the Mughal Road due to heavy snowfall.
The cold wave continues to wreak havoc in the hilly districts of Uttarakhand. The minimum temperature in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar is expected to hover between minus two and two degrees Celsius. A warning has been issued for increased slippery roads due to frost. Cold winds and fog have also disrupted people's daily routines in the plains.
According to the Meteorological Department, dense fog, cold waves, and cold day conditions are likely to persist in many parts of North India for the next two to three days. Therefore, people have been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
