Dense fog engulfs Bihar
From Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Residents across Bihar woke up to a startling sight on Thursday morning as thick fog enveloped large parts of the state, reducing visibility to barely 20 metres in many areas. In cities such as Patna and Darbhanga, the dense fog made it difficult to see even a short distance outside homes, leaving people struggling through the morning hours.
With the sun staying hidden behind the fog, the cold felt far more severe. Children were seen shivering on their way to school, while anxious parents have been urging district administrations for the past two days to declare a holiday. So far, however, no such decision has been taken.
The Meteorological Centre has issued a dense fog alert for several districts of Bihar, warning residents to remain cautious.
Yellow Alert for These Districts
According to the Meteorological Centre, there is a strong possibility of dense fog at one or two places over the next three hours in parts of West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Vaishali, Patna, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Arwal, Jehanabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Banka, Bhagalpur, Munger, Begusarai, Khagaria, Darbhanga and Madhubani. In view of this, a yellow alert has been issued.
The weather department has appealed to people to remain alert and cautious, particularly those travelling. Drivers have been advised to take extra care as poor visibility could disrupt road and air traffic.
Cold Wave-Like Conditions Likely
Weather experts said a western disturbance has become active, its impact now visible across the plains of north India. Falling temperatures are being recorded due to strong north-westerly winds. Even when sunlight appears during the day, a biting chill continues to be felt.
The combination of moisture and cold winds is intensifying foggy conditions. Meteorologists have warned that after the next 24 hours, the cold is expected to intensify further. From December 22 onwards, Bihar may witness cold wave-like conditions, with daytime temperatures also likely to dip below normal.
On December 18 and 19, dense fog is expected during morning hours in western and north-central districts of Bihar. Over the next three days, light to moderate fog is likely to prevail across the remaining parts of the state.
Weather Conditions Over the Past 24 Hours
According to the India Meteorological Department, Bihar’s weather remained completely dry over the past 24 hours. The highest maximum temperature was recorded at 28.2 degrees Celsius in Forbesganj (Araria), while maximum temperatures across the state ranged between 22.5 and 28.2 degrees Celsius.
The lowest minimum temperature of 9.1 degrees Celsius was recorded on December 17 at Sabour (Bhagalpur). Minimum temperatures across Bihar ranged between 9.1 and 15.6 degrees Celsius. The department noted that there was no significant change in temperatures across most parts of the state during this period.
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