Patna: Patna woke on Thursday to a city half-erased. A thick, milky fog hung low from the early hours, blurring the line between sky and street and reducing familiar landmarks to faint silhouettes. High-rise buildings, roadside trees and flyovers faded into the haze, giving the capital the appearance of a city suspended in white silence. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for cold day conditions and dense fog across all districts on Thursday.
Visibility in many parts of the city dropped to as little as 20 to 30 metres during the morning peak, forcing traffic to crawl. On major arteries, vehicles moved cautiously with headlights switched on, horns sounding more frequently than usual as drivers tried to navigate through the gloom. Commuters heading to offices and schools were delayed, with many choosing to start later than planned to avoid the worst of the conditions.
The fog’s impact extended beyond the roads. Several trains passing through Patna ran behind schedule as drivers reduced speed for safety, while flight operations at the airport were also disrupted, with delays reported through the morning. The combined effect added to the sense of a city slowed by weather rather than routine.
Meteorological officials said the fog was accompanied by a further dip in temperature, reinforcing the bite of winter already being felt across much of Bihar. The cold air prompted residents to layer up, with shawls, jackets and woollens becoming a common sight even after sunrise.
Patna is likely to continue witnessing dense fog during morning and late-night hours, with cold day conditions prevailing due to sustained winds of 20–25 kmph. The IMD has advised elderly people, young children and those with pre-existing health conditions to take extra precautions.
For now, the fog has become part of the capital’s daily rhythm, shaping commutes and routines. As winter deepens, Patna’s mornings are increasingly defined by low visibility, hushed streets and the cautious pace of a city learning, once again, to move through the mist.
