The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Ranchi office has raised a yellow alert for a severe cold wave, set to grip ten districts of Jharkhand on Wednesday. The warning comes as temperatures plummet across the state, disrupting travel and prompting urgent administrative action to protect citizens from the biting cold.
Districts Under the Weather Grip
The IMD's yellow alert for Wednesday specifically covers the districts of Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, Gumla, Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Chatra, Hazaribag, and Koderma. Simultaneously, Giridih, Deoghar, Dumka, Pakur, Godda and Sahibganj districts are likely to experience dense fog, reducing visibility significantly.
Explaining the situation, Ranchi IMD head Abhishek Anand stated that the minimum temperature in many districts is expected to touch single digits on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. "Dense fog conditions are likely to prevail in the northern parts of the state, especially in districts that share borders with Bihar," Anand added.
Mercury Plummets, Travel Disrupted
The cold wave has already made its presence felt. On Tuesday, the mercury dipped below 10°C in at least 13 districts. Gumla recorded the state's lowest minimum temperature at a chilling 2.4°C. Other notable readings included Ranchi at 5.4°C (a dip of 3.1°C), Daltonganj at 5°C (down by 3.4°C), Bokaro at 7.1°C (a drop of 4.5°C), Jamshedpur at 8.6°C, and Chaibasa at 9.2°C.
The adverse weather directly impacted air travel. Due to poor visibility, six IndiGo flights were cancelled at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport on Tuesday. The affected flights were 6E 7089/7014 (Kolkata-Ranchi-Kolkata), 6E 7674/7235 (Kolkata-Ranchi-Kolkata), and 6E 6287/576 (Delhi-Ranchi-Delhi).
Administration Lights Up Bonfires for Relief
In response to the harsh conditions, the district administration has swung into action to provide warmth to the vulnerable. On the instructions of the Ranchi Deputy Commissioner, bonfires are being lit at major intersections, bus stands, railway stations, panchayat premises, rural markets, religious places, and areas with high concentrations of homeless people and daily wage labourers across the district.
Officials have been directed to ensure adequate supplies of firewood and coal and to arrange additional bonfires as required. The administration has also urged the public to remain alert and help ensure that those in need can access these warming facilities. This proactive measure aims to mitigate the health risks associated with the severe cold wave, especially for those without adequate shelter.
