The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Patna has issued a stern warning as severe winter conditions tighten their grip on Bihar. The state is set to endure persistent dense fog and cold day conditions for at least the next 48 hours, with the chill intensifying significantly from Wednesday.
Sharp Temperature Drop and Widespread Fog Alert
The weather office has predicted that minimum temperatures across Bihar are likely to fall further by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius starting Wednesday. This drop will exacerbate the cold spell already being felt in most districts. While daytime maximum temperatures might see a slight rise of 1-4°C over the next day, the IMD cautioned that the inflow of colder northwesterly winds will sharply increase the chill factor, especially during the early morning and late evening hours. These harsh conditions are expected to persist until December 26.
According to the IMD bulletin, a cold day warning is currently active for several northern, southwestern, and south-central districts. These include Muzaffarpur, West Champaran, Siwan, and Rohtas. Simultaneously, dense fog alerts have been issued for southeastern districts like Bhagalpur, Munger, and Jamui, where visibility is expected to be severely reduced in the mornings.
State-Wide Impact and District-Specific Data
The warnings for cold days and dense fog are likely to extend to almost the entire state from Wednesday through Friday. Districts including Gaya, Patna, Darbhanga, and Samastipur are anticipated to face the most severe impact, with sharp drops in night temperatures and prolonged periods of dense fog disrupting visibility and daily life.
In the last 24 hours, Patna recorded a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius, with the maximum settling at a chilly 14.5°C. Gaya reported the state's lowest minimum temperature at 7.8°C. Interestingly, Rajgir in Nalanda recorded Bihar’s highest maximum temperature at 21.2°C, yet it still experienced severe cold day conditions, with visibility plunging to a mere 50 metres due to dense fog. Similar harsh conditions were reported from Nalanda and Sheikhpura, while dense fog continued to affect several south Bihar districts, including Patna, Jehanabad, and Bhagalpur.
Administrative Response: School Closures in Patna
In response to the worsening weather, the Patna district administration has taken decisive action. On Tuesday, it ordered all private and government schools, pre-schools, and anganwadi centres to suspend academic activities for students up to Class VIII until December 26. For classes IX and above, academic activities may continue between 10 am and 3:30 pm, provided necessary precautions against the cold are followed. However, special classes or examinations for pre-board and board exams are exempt from these restrictions.
Residents across Bihar are advised to take necessary precautions, limit early morning and late evening travel, and stay updated with the latest weather bulletins as the intense cold wave shows no signs of relenting before the weekend.
