Patna: A severe cold wave continues to affect Bihar, making daily life difficult for people across the state. Dense fog, icy winds and very low temperatures have led to school closures, transport delays and even fatal accidents. In Patna, all schools have been closed until December 26 to protect children from the harsh weather, while the Lakhisarai district administration has ordered schools to remain shut until January 4. Authorities say these steps are necessary as cold day conditions and poor visibility are expected to continue.
The cold has been particularly intense in southern Bihar. Gaya recorded a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, a level usually seen in hill stations like Manali. Rajgir was the coldest place in the state, with the temperature dropping to 6.6 degrees Celsius. In the past 24 hours, at least four districts have reported temperatures below 8 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for cold day conditions in several districts, including Patna, warning people to remain cautious.
Dense fog has also caused serious accidents. In Saran district, a student died after a motorcycle collided with a cement-loaded truck because of extremely poor visibility. In Ara, a tractor rammed into a passenger train and was dragged for nearly 500 metres before getting stuck in the engine. Although no major injuries were reported in that incident, it created panic and highlighted the danger of travelling in foggy conditions.
Transport services across Bihar have been badly affected. Trains are running much slower than usual due to low visibility. The Rajdhani Express, which normally runs at high speed, has been forced to slow down, leading to delays of up to 10 hours on some routes. Many other express and passenger trains are also running late, causing trouble for passengers who are waiting on cold and foggy platforms. At Patna airport, 38 flights were delayed, with some arriving and departing more than two hours late, leading to overcrowding and long waiting times.
Weather experts say the intense cold is due to an active jet stream in the upper atmosphere, which is bringing cold winds directly into the plains. For the past few days, sunlight has been missing across large parts of Bihar, with fog and mist covering the sky throughout the day. The small difference between day and night temperatures has increased the feeling of cold, making it uncomfortable even during daytime.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Patna, dense fog is likely to continue in many districts until December 27. Visibility may remain very low in the mornings and at night, affecting road, rail and air travel. People have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, drive slowly, and take precautions to stay safe as the cold wave shows no sign of easing.
