Cold wave and fog increased problems

Winter has reached its peak in North India. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave and dense fog have severely affected life in states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. In the last 24 hours, the intensity of cold and reduced visibility disrupted people’s daily routine. Along with this, there is a possibility of rain and snowfall in some areas due to the influence of western disturbance in the beginning of the new year.

Situation of last 24 hours

Due to cold, “cold day” and “severe cold day” conditions persisted in many parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

• Delhi-NCR: A huge drop in day temperature was recorded. The minimum temperature was 2-4 degrees Celsius below normal.
• Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir: Cold wave brought life to a standstill. Local residents and tourists had to face severe cold.
• Punjab and Haryana: The mercury dropped below 5 degrees Celsius in many areas, further increasing the impact of cold.

havoc of fog

Dense fog severely affected traffic in many parts of North India.

• Visibility:
  • Visibility was less than 50 meters in Chandigarh, Ambikapur, and Sikar.
  • Visibility reached zero in many areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• Impact on traffic:
  • Hundreds of flights and trains were delayed.
  • Road traffic was disrupted, due to which passengers had to face a lot of problems.

Weather forecast for the coming days

IMD has also issued a forecast of severe cold and bad weather for the next few days.

• 31 December – 1 January:
  • Cold wave will continue in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Fog conditions will persist.
• 4-6 January:
  • Due to active Western Disturbance, there are chances of rain and snowfall in North-Western India.
  • There is a possibility of snowfall in the western Himalayan region.
• 5 January:
  • Warning of heavy snowfall in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh.
  • The cold will increase further with snowfall in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand also.

Tips to prevent cold

1. Use warm clothes and cover your face and head to protect from cold winds.
2. Drink warm beverages and keep the body hydrated.
3. While driving during fog, maintain slow speed and use fog lights.
4. Pay special attention to protecting the elderly and children from exposure to cold.