Patna: Residents across Bihar are facing severe cold as the state experiences a sharp drop in temperatures, prompting the Meteorological Department to issue a yellow alert for 14 districts over the next 48 hours. With icy winds sweeping across the region, there is little difference between day and night temperatures, and minimum temperatures are plunging to around 6°C.
The alert, in effect until January 14, covers East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Saharsa, and Purnea. Authorities have warned residents to remain vigilant due to dense fog and severe cold, with little relief expected over the coming ten days.
According to the Meteorological Department, temperatures could fall by an additional 1–2°C in the next week. A Western Disturbance is expected to hit North India on January 17, which is likely to further intensify the cold. Cold day conditions may persist in several northern districts, while dense fog is expected to continue reducing visibility, prompting advice to limit travel to essential journeys only.
The extreme chill is attributed to snowfall in the Himalayan region, combined with the influence of the active Western Disturbance. Scientists note that the continuous drop in temperature and widespread fog are responsible for the unusually cold conditions across the state.
In the past 24 hours, southern and northwestern Bihar recorded temperature drops of 2–5°C, while other areas saw little change. Patna, the state capital, experienced a maximum temperature of 14.5°C and a minimum of 10.8°C. Several other districts, including Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Saharsa, and Gaya, reported cold day conditions. Muzaffarpur recorded a narrow difference of just 1.7°C between its day and night temperatures, highlighting the persistence of the chill. Residents are advised to take precautions against the cold and limit outdoor activity where possible.
