Patna: Bihar has been in the grip of a severe cold wave for more than a week, with 25 districts placed under cold day and dense fog alerts, according to the Meteorological Department, and no significant relief is expected until December 28.
Icy westerly winds have intensified the chill across the state, forcing the closure of schools in several districts. In Patna, dense fog enveloped the city during the morning hours before sunlight briefly eased conditions later in the day. However, temperatures dropped again after 4 pm as cold winds strengthened.
The fog severely disrupted transport services. Four flights were cancelled and around 20 pairs delayed at Patna airport, while long-distance trains such as the Sampoorna Kranti and Tejas Express were reported to be running up to nine hours late.
Tragic incidents linked to the cold were reported from several districts. In Gayaji, a husband and wife were burned alive after their house caught fire late on Tuesday evening in Bitho village under the Chakand police station area. The victims, identified as Pramod Saw and his wife, died on the spot as the house was reduced to ashes, leaving their three children orphaned. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
In the Banka district, a mother and her son sustained serious burns while warming themselves by a bonfire. In another incident in Bhojpur’s Kataibojh village, a nine-month pregnant woman suffered severe burns under similar circumstances and was referred from Ara Sadar Hospital to Patna for advanced treatment.
Dense fog also triggered multiple road and rail accidents. In Bhagalpur’s Pirpainti area, a car collided with a bus due to poor visibility, though no casualties were reported. In Saran, a student was killed after a motorcycle collided with a cement-laden truck. Meanwhile, in Ara, a tractor was dragged nearly 500 metres after colliding with a passenger train, though no major injuries were reported.
Meteorological data showed extreme cold conditions across the state. Temperatures in four districts fell below 10°C, while eight districts recorded temperatures under 11°C. Notably, Gayaji recorded a minimum temperature of 4°C on Monday, matching that of Manali.
The weather department has issued an orange alert for dense fog and cold day conditions in 12 districts, while 13 districts remain under a yellow alert. Officials warned that moderate to dense fog is likely to persist for the next four to five days, particularly during morning hours, with visibility dropping to under 10 metres in some areas.
Although maximum temperatures may rise by 1 to 4°C in parts of Bihar over the next two to three days, meteorologists said the increase would not provide meaningful relief, as minimum temperatures are expected to remain unchanged.
Experts attributed the prolonged cold spell to an active westerly jet stream at around 12.6km above sea level, moving at speeds of approximately 140 knots, intensifying cold winds across north India, including Bihar.
