Fog and cold wave grip Bihar, IMD issues alert

Patna: The chilling effects of snowfall in the hilly regions of northern India have extended to Bihar, with the state experiencing an intense cold wave for the past four days. Tragically, two people have succumbed to the cold in Patna, including 63-year-old Batarni Devi from Purushottampur in Naubatpur. The second victim remains unidentified.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dense fog is expected in several districts, including Arwal, Aurangabad, Begusarai, Bhojpur, Buxar, Gaya, Jehanabad, Kaimur, Nalanda, Nawada, Patna, Rohtas, and Sheikhpura.

Fog disrupts transport

Visibility at Patna Airport has dropped to less than 100 metres, causing significant disruption to flight operations. On Saturday, three flights from Delhi and one each from Mumbai and Bengaluru were cancelled. Rail services have also been severely affected, with 14 trains, including the Rajdhani Express, running behind schedule.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for seven districts and a yellow alert for 31 districts, warning of dense fog. Banka emerged as the coldest district in the last 24 hours, with the minimum temperature dipping to 7.4°C. In Patna, the maximum temperature on Saturday was recorded at 14°C, while the minimum stood at 10.7°C.

Health emergencies in schools

In Sheikhpura, the cold wave caused chaos at Plus Two High School in Kutaut, Barbigha block, where a dozen students and a teacher fainted due to the cold on Saturday. The affected individuals were rushed to the local referral hospital, where eight students were discharged after treatment, while four remain under medical care.

A similar incident occurred in the Manjhi block of Saran district, where students participating in a competition from Upkramit Madhya Vidyalaya, Kalan, collapsed on the road due to the biting cold. One eighth-grade student has been hospitalised.