Residents of Ludhiana endured another day of biting cold on Monday as the city remained gripped by winter chill, with the minimum temperature hovering close to 5 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an orange alert, predicting that severe cold wave and dense fog conditions will persist over the district for the next two days.
Temperature Dip and Visibility Plunge
Official data recorded the night temperature at 5.6 degrees Celsius, which was marginally above normal by 0.3 degrees but notably higher than Sunday's reading by 1.2 degrees. The daytime brought little relief, with partly cloudy skies and weak sunshine. This lack of solar intensity directly impacted the maximum temperature, which settled at 17.2 degrees Celsius—a drop of 1.5 degrees below normal and one degree lower than the previous day.
The morning commenced with a blanket of very dense fog, causing a significant disruption. At 8:30 am, visibility in Ludhiana was severely reduced to a mere 10 metres. Conditions saw gradual improvement, with visibility rising to 500 metres by 11:30 am under moderate fog. By the afternoon, haze took over, allowing visibility to extend to 1,500 metres at 2:30 pm, before misty conditions in the evening brought it down to 1,000 metres by 5:30 pm.
Met Department's Severe Weather Warnings
The IMD's latest warning is stern. An orange alert has been officially issued for Ludhiana district for both Tuesday and Wednesday. This alert forecasts very dense fog and cold wave conditions and is designed to prompt all concerned departments to ensure preparedness for severe weather. For the subsequent days, Thursday and Friday, the department has downgraded the warning to a yellow alert, which continues to forecast dense fog and serves to keep authorities updated on evolving conditions.
Looking ahead, the IMD's forecast suggests a slight fluctuation in temperatures. Day temperatures are expected to climb to 20 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, hold steady on Wednesday, and then dip slightly to 19 degrees on Thursday. Night temperatures may see a minor rise, potentially reaching 6 degrees on Tuesday and 7 degrees by Thursday, before falling back to around 5 degrees by Saturday.
City Life Grinds Slow in the Chill
The persistent cold has profoundly impacted daily life in the industrial city. Residents report that the brief spell of warmer days has passed, and the sun's weakness has forced people to return to wearing multiple layers of clothing even during daytime hours. Many are opting to stay indoors, especially during the evenings and early mornings, to avoid exposure to the harsh conditions.
"The sun has no warmth anymore. We had packed away some winter clothes, but they are all out again," shared Jasbir Singh, a local resident. The cold has also altered social routines. Another resident, Rohit, mentioned that his evening plans have changed drastically. "Going out to meet friends is now less appealing. It's become a routine to stay in and watch movies instead," he said, adding that marketplaces also see noticeably less footfall as the night progresses due to the cold.
The collective sentiment across Ludhiana is one of hunkering down, with the cold wave affecting everything from social interactions to business activity, as the city awaits a respite from the severe winter conditions.
