Cold Wave Tightens Grip on Bihar as Gaps Emerge Between Official Claims and Ground Reality

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By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Bihar remains firmly in the grip of biting cold and dense fog, with Patna bearing the brunt of the harsh winter. The severe chill has disrupted daily life in the state capital, where the absence of bonfires at major road junctions has left pedestrians, auto-rickshaw drivers and pavement dwellers shivering through an intense cold wave.

Red alert for cold wave over next 72 hours

The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for a cold wave in more than half of Bihar’s districts for the next 72 hours. While the district administration maintains that bonfires are being arranged at key intersections to provide relief, the situation on the ground tells a different story.

Temperatures plunge due to western disturbance

According to weather officials, minimum temperatures across several districts are hovering between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius. Under the influence of a western disturbance, daytime maximum temperatures have also dropped sharply to between 14 and 16 degrees, while night temperatures are slipping to 9–10 degrees. The Meteorological Department has warned that there is little chance of relief over the coming week, deepening concerns over inadequate protective and relief measures for the public.

Struggling to fight the cold at city junctions

Typically, during a cold wave, the administration ensures that bonfires are lit at prominent locations by 6–7 pm. This year, however, the arrangement appears to have faltered. Even in the Nutan Rajdhani area of Patna—home to crucial offices such as the District Magistrate’s office, railway junction, airport and Secretariat—bonfire facilities remain insufficient. A night-time ground report across different parts of the city highlighted what many described as administrative apathy.

The gap between claims and reality

At around 8 pm, as the cold intensified, no bonfires were seen burning at R Block Chowk, despite claims by the municipal corporation that arrangements had been made there. Local residents said that bonfires last year provided significant relief, but this winter they have been forced to endure the cold wrapped only in shawls. Auto-rickshaw drivers and pavement dwellers were seen shivering in the open.

Income Tax Chowk: a bitter night on a busy road

By 10 pm, the situation was no better at Income Tax Chowk, one of the city’s busiest intersections. No bonfires were in sight in or around the area. Rickshaw pullers attempted to shield themselves from the cold by wrapping blankets around their vehicles. They recalled that last year fires were lit regularly, allowing them to warm themselves briefly. The absence of such basic relief during an intense cold wave has only added to their hardship.

JP Golambar: delayed relief finally arrives

At around 11 pm, near Hotel Maurya at JP Golambar, close to a night shelter, a municipal vehicle was finally seen unloading firewood and staff began lighting a bonfire. Municipal workers said it was taking time to transport wood and prepare fires at all designated locations, adding that only 25 kilograms of firewood was being provided per site. Residents of the night shelter expressed relief, saying the cold had become unbearable after dinner and that the fire would at least allow them to warm themselves for a while.

Urgent need for swift administrative action

With temperatures expected to fall further in the coming days, the State Disaster Management Authority has advised people to avoid stepping out unless necessary, wear warm clothing and not venture out on an empty stomach. In a city like Patna, where thousands of people spend long hours outdoors for work, arranging bonfires is not merely a relief measure but an essential public service.

Call for immediate and comprehensive arrangements

Senior physician Dr Diwakar Tejaswi said the sight of shivering rickshaw pullers and families sleeping on pavements at night raises serious questions about administrative preparedness. “With even colder days ahead, the district administration must act immediately and ensure relief measures are in place at every possible location. Only then can this cold wave be prevented from turning into a humanitarian crisis,” he said.
He acknowledged that the administration has arranged several night shelters and is working on bonfire facilities, but stressed that the faster these arrangements are completed, the greater the relief for people battling the bitter cold.