Patna/Rajgir: Bihar is experiencing an intense spell of winter cold, with temperatures in several districts dropping sharply and dense fog blanketing much of the state, prompting authorities to shut schools and disrupt air travel. Rajgir recorded a minimum temperature of 6.6°C, making it colder than hill stations such as Shimla, Dehradun, Ranchi, and Bhopal. Shimla, by comparison, reported a temperature of 7°C, according to weather data.
At least five districts in Bihar have recorded temperatures below 10°C, while prolonged overcast skies and cold north-westerly winds have worsened conditions. For the past four days, large parts of the state have seen little to no sunshine.
🥶 Rajgir Records Severe Cold
• Rajgir (Nalanda) recorded a minimum temperature of 6.6°C, colder than Shimla, Dehradun, Ranchi, and Bhopal.
• The sharp dip has made Rajgir one of the coldest places in Bihar at present.
🌫️ Cold Wave Grips Bihar
• Large parts of Bihar have not seen sunlight for the last four days.
• Westerly winds and dense fog have increased cold conditions across the state.
❄️ Five Districts Below 10°C
• Minimum temperatures dropped below 10°C in Araria, Siwan, Bhojpur, Gopalganj, and Sitamarhi.
• Night-time cold has intensified across these districts.
🏫 School Closures in Multiple Districts
• Schools were closed in Sheohar till December 23 due to extreme cold.
• Schools in Purnea, Muzaffarpur, Buxar, Araria, Siwan, Bhojpur, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, and West Champaran remain shut till December 24.
⚠️ Orange Alert for Fog and Cold Day
• The IMD issued an orange alert for 24 districts of Bihar.
• Dense fog and cold-day conditions are expected to continue.
👀 Poor Visibility in Several Cities
• Dense fog covered Patna, Nalanda, Aurangabad, and Chhapra on Monday morning.
• Visibility in Nalanda dropped to less than 20 metres.
✈️ Flight Disruptions at Patna Airport
• Flights on the Patna–Delhi, Patna–Kolkata, and Patna–Chennai routes were cancelled.
• Around 13 flights at Patna airport were delayed due to low visibility.
📉 Further Temperature Drop Likely
• The Meteorological Centre forecast a 2–3°C fall in minimum temperatures across Bihar. “The maximum temperature has remained 4 to 6 degrees below normal because solar radiation is not reaching the ground,” said meteorologist Gaurav Kumar.
• Cold-day conditions may intensify across the state after December 25.
• A dense fog layer in the lower troposphere is blocking sunlight over Bihar.
• A western disturbance developing near the Himalayan region is worsening the cold.
🧣 Health Advisory for Bihar Residents
• Cold-day conditions across Bihar may increase respiratory health risks.
• Extra precautions are advised for children and elderly residents in Patna, Nalanda, and nearby districts.
