Icy winds intensify the chill: North India gripped by dense fog; Red alert issued for Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi.

Icy winds blowing from the high peaks of the Himalayas have gripped the entire North India in a severe cold wave. Temperatures have dropped significantly below normal in several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. In the capital Delhi, the minimum temperature recorded on Monday was 3.2 degrees Celsius, while in Gurugram, the mercury plummeted to 0.6 degrees. Dense fog has severely affected daily life and transportation.

According to the Meteorological Department, the cold wave in the plains has intensified due to the effect of cold northerly winds from the Himalayan region and a Western Disturbance. Reduced wind speed and increased humidity have led to dense fog. Visibility in many areas of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana was reduced to between zero and 50 meters, making conditions even more severe in the morning.

How much did the temperature drop, and where was it coldest?

Many parts of North India recorded the coldest night of the season. In Kukumseri, Himachal Pradesh, the temperature dropped to -10.8 degrees Celsius. -19.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Nyoma, Ladakh. In Fatehpur, Rajasthan, the mercury fell to 0.4 degrees. Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh was the coldest, with a minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees.

What warnings has the Meteorological Department issued?

A red alert has been issued for Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.

An orange alert has been declared for Uttar Pradesh for the next two to three days.

A dense fog warning has been issued for Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.

Road, rail, and air traffic may be affected due to fog and the cold wave.

What is the impact on daily life?

Due to the severe cold, school timings have been changed, and those working outdoors are facing significant difficulties in many places. Rivers, streams, and water supply lines have frozen in the hilly states. Hospitals are seeing an increase in patients with cold-related illnesses. The administration has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and wear warm clothes.

What will the weather be like in the coming days? The meteorological department says that a new Western Disturbance may become active from January 15th, which will increase snowfall in the hilly areas and intensify the cold in the plains. For now, the next few days will remain challenging for North India.