As a relentless cold wave tightens its grip on northern regions of India, affecting states like Punjab, East Madhya Pradesh, northwest Rajasthan, and West Uttar Pradesh, residents are grappling with severe weather conditions that have led to a cascade of disruptions across various sectors.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported dense to very dense fog enveloping Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, resulting in cold wave to severe cold wave conditions. Visibility dropped significantly, reaching as low as zero meters in some areas, prompting the IMD to issue warnings of the fog likely to become even denser in the coming nights.
Temperature readings in multiple locations across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Karnataka, Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad recorded below-normal temperatures, adding to the challenges faced by the residents.
Looking ahead, the Meteorological Department forecasts a gradual rise in minimum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius over Northwest India in the next four to five days. Meanwhile, East India is expected to experience a rise of 3-4 degrees Celsius during the same period.
The coming days are predicted to witness cold-day conditions in specific areas of Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana, with dense to very dense fog affecting several places in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh-Delhi, as well as isolated areas in Bihar, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim on January 17.
On January 18, dense fog is anticipated in certain pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, while isolated places in Rajasthan might experience cold wave conditions.
The disruptions caused by the severe weather are evident in the transportation sector. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport witnessed delays for approximately 30 flights, and 17 flights were canceled due to adverse weather conditions. Similar challenges extended to the railway network, with 30 trains bound for Delhi experiencing delays.
Schools have not been spared from the impact of the harsh weather. District authorities in Patna have declared the closure of all schools for students up to class 8 until Saturday, January 20. For classes 9th to 12th, regular sessions will be held from 9 am to 3:30 pm, with no educational activities permitted beyond 3:30 pm. In Gautam Buddha Nagar, all schools for students up to class 8 were ordered to remain shut until Tuesday, January 16.
In Punjab, the government announced an extension of the closure for primary schools until January 21, while classes 6 to 12 resumed normal operations from January 15, with operating hours scheduled from 10 am to 3 pm.
As the cold wave persists, residents are urged to take precautions, and travelers are advised to stay updated with the latest information from airlines and railway authorities. The severe weather conditions are likely to persist, impacting daily life and necessitating continued vigilance from the affected regions.