Residents of Punjab and Haryana are battling a severe cold wave as temperatures have taken a sharp plunge, bringing life to a near standstill in many parts. The twin states and their shared capital, Chandigarh, woke up to another bitterly cold morning on Wednesday, with dense fog severely reducing visibility and disrupting transportation networks.
Mercury Dips, Visibility Plummets
The minimum temperature in Chandigarh dropped to a chilling 2.2 degrees Celsius, which is a significant five degrees below the season's average. This intense cold has not been limited to the union territory. Nearby Ambala in Haryana recorded a low of 3.4 degrees Celsius, while Punjab's Patiala shivered at 4.2 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has attributed this sharp fall in mercury to clear skies and calm winds during the night, which allowed heat to escape rapidly.
The cold was compounded by a thick blanket of fog that engulfed the region. Visibility in Chandigarh dropped drastically to a mere 50 metres during the early morning hours. This dense fog created hazardous conditions for commuters and led to major disruptions across all modes of transport.
Travel Chaos Grips the Region
The adverse weather conditions had an immediate and severe impact on travel schedules. At the Chandigarh International Airport, several flights were affected. Four flights were delayed, and one incoming flight had to be diverted due to the poor visibility caused by the dense fog. Airline officials advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
The road and rail networks were not spared either. The fog significantly reduced visibility on highways, increasing the risk of accidents and slowing down vehicular movement to a crawl. Train services were also thrown into disarray, with 23 trains arriving late at the Chandigarh Railway Station. Some trains were reported to be delayed by several hours, causing immense inconvenience to passengers.
IMD Forecast and Public Advisory
The weather office has predicted that the cold wave conditions are likely to persist for the next few days. There is no immediate relief in sight from the biting cold or the morning fog. The IMD has issued advisories, urging people to take necessary precautions.
Authorities are advising citizens, especially the elderly and children, to wear warm clothing and avoid early morning exposure. Commuters are being asked to exercise extreme caution while driving, use fog lights, and follow traffic advisories. The continued disruption of flights and trains suggests that travelers should plan for potential delays and keep updated with real-time information from their airlines and Indian Railways.
This spell of intense winter weather underscores the challenging conditions faced by northern India during this season, impacting daily routines, business, and transportation on a large scale.
