Patna: Cold conditions have tightened their grip across Bihar as the impact of snowfall in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh continues to affect the plains. Barring Madhubani, minimum temperatures in 37 districts of the state have dropped below 10 degrees Celsius, leading to severe cold and foggy conditions.
According to weather data from the past 24 hours, Bhagalpur, Sheikhpura, Chhapra, Kishanganj and Gaya recorded minimum temperatures of around 7 degrees Celsius. Bhagalpur emerged as the coldest district in the state, with the minimum temperature plunging to 4.4 degrees Celsius.
The Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for cold day conditions and dense fog across all districts of Bihar on Thursday. Dense fog during early morning hours has significantly reduced visibility, affecting road, rail and air traffic.
Due to poor visibility, five pairs of IndiGo flights were cancelled at Patna airport on Wednesday, while 11 pairs were delayed. Flights cancelled included two each to Delhi and Kolkata, and one to Mumbai. Officials said the cancellations were linked to adverse weather conditions along flight routes. Over the past 15 days, dense fog has led to the cancellation of 84 flights and delays to 322 flights, with IndiGo being the most affected airline.
Sunshine remained elusive until around 10 am on Wednesday, worsening the cold conditions. Despite brief sunshine later in the day, icy winds rendered it ineffective. The maximum temperature was recorded at 19.8 degrees Celsius in Motihari, the highest in the state. In Patna, the minimum temperature stood at 9.8 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature dropped by nearly three degrees to settle at 16.2 degrees Celsius.
Seven trains were also delayed due to foggy conditions. The Patna Jan Shatabdi Express from Howrah arrived 1 hour and 37 minutes late, while Farakka Express and Magadh Express were delayed by three hours each. Brahmaputra Mail reached four hours late, and Deoghar–Patna MEMU was delayed by two hours. The Patna–Ranchi Jan Shatabdi Express was cancelled due to operational reasons.
No Relief From Cold for Next 3–4 Days
Meteorological experts said that an active western disturbance over North India and continuous snowfall in the Himalayan region are pushing cold northwesterly winds into Bihar. These winds are causing minimum temperatures to remain below normal levels. There is little chance of relief from the cold for the next three to four days, they said.
Cold winds are expected to blow at speeds of 20 to 30 kmph in several districts, further intensifying the chill. Open areas, agricultural fields and highways are likely to experience harsher cold conditions.
The weather department has advised elderly people, children and those with existing health conditions to take extra precautions. Bonfires were seen in several districts, including Supaul, as residents attempted to cope with the cold wave.
Weather Outlook for Patna
In the state capital, Patna, dense fog is expected during early mornings and late nights, leading to reduced visibility. Daytime temperatures are unlikely to rise significantly, and cold winds blowing at 20–25 kmph may maintain cold-day-like conditions over the next few days.
