North India is currently reeling under a severe cold wave accompanied by dense fog, disrupting daily life across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Icy winds have caused a temperature drop of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius in many areas. Visibility has plunged to zero in several locations, severely affecting road and rail traffic.
At Delhi’s Palam Airport, visibility was recorded at 350 meters, although flight operations remained largely unaffected. According to the Meteorological Department, these conditions are expected to persist for the next two to three days. On Sunday, visibility dropped to zero in cities like Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Fursatganj, while the Taj Mahal in Agra remained shrouded in thick fog. Similar conditions were reported in Punjab’s Patiala and Haryana’s Ambala.
In the hilly regions, snowfall has intensified the cold. Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of -8°C, Gulmarg -8.5°C, and Leh in Ladakh -11.5°C. Himachal Pradesh saw temperatures plunge to -12.3°C, leading to the closure of 340 roads and stranding hundreds of vehicles. Key routes like the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang and Jalori Pass have also been closed.
In Delhi, Sunday’s minimum temperature was relatively higher at 13°C but cold winds continued to cause discomfort. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Monday, predicting further temperature drops and intensified fog.
