Patna: A spell of icy north-westerly winds has intensified the cold wave across Bihar, pushing temperatures further down and severely affecting daily life. The Meteorological Centre on Saturday issued an Orange Alert for cold day conditions and dense fog in 38 districts of the state.
Dense fog engulfed more than 20 cities including Bhojpur, Bettiah, Bagaha and Gopalganj early in the morning, reducing visibility to near zero. Motorists were forced to drive with headlights on even after sunrise as roads remained shrouded in thick fog.
According to the Meteorological Centre, the continuous flow of cold north-westerly winds has led to a steady drop in minimum temperatures. At least eight districts recorded minimum temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius or below, intensifying the biting cold across the region.
Meanwhile, a tragic incident was reported from Motihari, where a fire broke out in a house late Friday night after a bonfire was lit to protect livestock from the cold. A 75-year-old elderly man died after sustaining severe burn injuries, while his son and grandson were critically injured in the incident.
Temperature Likely to Drop Further
Patna experienced cold day conditions over the past 24 hours. Friday morning in the capital began with dense fog and strong cold winds, with visibility dropping below 100 metres until around 9 am. Due to the combined effect of fog and cold winds, the maximum temperature plunged up to 8 degrees Celsius below normal, making Patna the coldest city in the state on Friday.
Dense fog was also reported from Jehanabad, Bettiah, Bagaha and Samastipur, where the minimum temperature dropped to as low as 7.4 degrees Celsius.
Weather experts have warned that temperatures may fall by another 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the coming days, further intensifying the cold wave across several parts of Bihar.
Flights and Trains Hit by Fog
Dense fog caused major disruptions in air and rail services on Friday. At Patna airport, five pairs of IndiGo flights were cancelled, while operations of 16 pairs of flights operated by Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet and IndiGo were delayed by one to two hours.
Rail traffic was also affected, with several trains running hours behind schedule. The Tejas Rajdhani and Howrah Rajdhani reached their destinations 6 to 8 hours late, while the Sampoorna Kranti Express arrived in Patna after a delay of nearly 12 hours, leaving passengers stranded in the cold.
Hyderabad–Darbhanga Flight Diverted
Due to poor visibility caused by dense fog, an IndiGo flight from Hyderabad to Darbhanga was diverted to Kolkata on Friday. Flight number 6E 537, scheduled to land at Darbhanga at 2.05 pm, was diverted mid-air due to adverse weather conditions. More than 100 passengers were stranded in Kolkata, leading to protests inside the aircraft.
Impact of Western Disturbance and Snowfall
Meteorologists attributed the severe cold conditions to continuous snowfall in the Himalayan region and an active western disturbance. These weather systems are impacting Bihar, leading to a sharp drop in night temperatures and cold wave-like conditions throughout the day and night.
Weather Forecast for Patna
The cold is expected to persist in the capital on Saturday as well. Dense fog is likely during morning hours, resulting in low visibility. While sunshine may appear during the day, it is unlikely to provide significant relief from the cold. Patna is expected to witness another cold day, with a narrow gap between maximum and minimum temperatures.
No Relief for Next 4–5 Days
The Meteorological Centre has warned that there is no immediate relief from the cold wave over the next four to five days. Cold day conditions are likely to continue in north, north-central and south-eastern parts of Bihar. Dense fog is expected in several districts on December 28, while parts of northern and south-western Bihar may experience dense fog again on December 29.
People have been advised to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel, and take adequate measures to protect themselves from the cold.
Schools Closed in Patna Till December 30
In view of the extreme cold, the Patna district administration has ordered the closure of all schools up to Class 8 till December 30. District Magistrate Dr Tyagarajan SM issued the order on Friday, stating that pre-schools and anganwadi centres will also remain closed to safeguard children’s health amid the prevailing cold wave conditions.
