A deadly shroud of dense winter fog has enveloped Punjab, leading to tragic loss of life and severe disruption on highways. The hazardous conditions, persisting across northern India, have been directly linked to a fatal road accident in Amritsar and a major multi-vehicle collision on a national highway.
Tragedy Strikes on Majitha Road
In a heartbreaking incident early on Monday, 18-year-old Rahul lost his life on Amritsar's Majitha Road. The teenager was riding a motorcycle with his younger brother, heading to work, when they collided with an auto-rickshaw near the Verka Dairy plant. Eyewitnesses reported that the extremely poor visibility caused by the thick fog made Rahul lose his balance, leading to the fatal fall into the path of traffic.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Rahul succumbed to his injuries. His grieving mother, Gurmeet Kaur, has appealed to the authorities to investigate the accident thoroughly and ensure accountability for any negligence.
Highway Carnage and Traffic Gridlock
The fog-induced chaos was not confined to the city roads. On the crucial national highway connecting Verka and Pathankot, a truck carrying gravel overturned after its driver was blinded by the "whiteout" conditions. This initial crash set off a dangerous chain reaction.
Tons of spilled gravel covered the asphalt, creating an unexpected barrier for fast-moving vehicles. Several following cars and trucks then collided with the wreckage and each other. The series of accidents resulted in massive traffic jams that paralyzed the route for several hours as recovery teams struggled to clear the debris.
Separate Shock: Newborn Found Abandoned
In an unrelated but deeply disturbing event that shook the local community on the same Monday morning, the body of a newborn infant was discovered abandoned in the cold in the Gate Hakima area of Amritsar. The police have taken custody of the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Investigators are actively pursuing leads, including scanning CCTV footage from nearby businesses and questioning local residents and shopkeepers to find out when and how the infant was left there.
Widespread Fog and Weather Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported zero visibility in the morning hours in several parts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Adampur, Halwara, and Pathankot. Other cities recorded severely reduced visibility: as low as 10 meters in Gurdaspur and Ludhiana, 20 meters in Patiala and Ballowal Saunkhri, and less than 50 meters in Bathinda.
Cold wave conditions prevailed at isolated places across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh. Hisar in Haryana recorded the plains' lowest minimum temperature at a chilling 2.1°C. In Punjab, Ballowal Saunkhri was the coldest at 2.4°C.
The IMD forecast offers a mixed picture. Some relief from the dry cold is expected with light to moderate rainfall predicted at isolated places in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh on December 30. However, dense to very dense fog is likely to persist during night and morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh until December 31.
A gradual rise in minimum temperature by 3-4°C is likely over the next three days, followed by a fall of 3-4°C for the subsequent four days.
