Bihar remains in the firm grip of a severe winter, with a persistent combination of dense fog and icy northern winds creating challenging conditions across the state. The capital city, Patna, recorded a maximum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 7.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, reflecting the ongoing cold spell.
Administrative Action: School Closures Announced
In response to the harsh weather, the Patna district administration took decisive action on Sunday. It ordered the suspension of all academic activities for students up to Class V in both government and private schools, anganwadi centres, and pre-schools. This directive will remain in effect until January 13.
For classes from VI onwards, institutions may continue operations with necessary precautions, but only during a restricted timeframe between 10:30 am and 3:00 pm. However, the administration has made an important exemption: special sessions and examinations for board and pre-board students are not covered by these restrictions and can proceed as scheduled.
IMD's Cautious Outlook and Statewide Impact
Sanjay Kumar, a meteorologist at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Patna, provided a nuanced forecast. He noted that while maximum temperatures are gradually rising, offering some relief from the intense cold day conditions, people should not let their guard down.
"Even when the sun is out and fog clears during the day, it is not yet safe for people to significantly increase their outdoor exposure," Kumar cautioned. He explained a counterintuitive weather phenomenon: clear skies can often make people feel colder, and recorded temperatures can actually be lower than during foggy periods, as fog and cloud cover act like a blanket, trapping heat closer to the ground.
The IMD's Sunday bulletin confirmed that the state remained dry over the previous 24 hours. However, severe cold day conditions were officially recorded in Darbhanga and Valmiki Nagar. A broader swathe of districts, including Araria, Motihari, Nalanda, Vaishali, and Munger, also experienced significant cold day conditions, indicating a sharp temperature drop across northern and central Bihar.
The temperature extremes recorded on Sunday were notable: Kishanganj registered the highest maximum temperature at 24.9 degrees Celsius, while Sabour in Bhagalpur shivered with the lowest minimum at just 4 degrees Celsius.
Dry but Foggy Forecast Ahead
Weather forecasters predict that dry conditions will prevail across Bihar for the next seven days. However, residents should brace for continued moderate to dense fog. Meteorologists attribute this prolonged cold spell to the influence of frequent western disturbances, which are channeling icy, high-speed winds into the region from the north.
The situation underscores the significant impact of the winter season on daily life, prompting administrative interventions and requiring continued public caution as per expert advice from the IMD.
