A thick blanket of fog has enveloped the Indo-Gangetic plains and parts of Central India, casting a chilly shadow over the region for the past several days. This dense veil of mist, refusing to yield to the sun's rays, has triggered a significant dip in daytime temperatures, leading to "cold day" and even "severe cold day" conditions in parts of Punjab, North Haryana, and pockets of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Adding to the chill are successive weak Western Disturbances brushing the Western Himalayas with light snowfall and rain. These disturbances, along with the biting northwesterly winds from the foothills, have further plunged night-time temperatures, fostering "cold wave" conditions in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and even isolated pockets of Delhi and the National Capital Region. Frost is being reported from many parts of Rajasthan and Haryana.
The dense fog has wreaked havoc on travel, delaying and canceling numerous flights at Delhi Airport and disrupting train schedules across the Northwest, North, and Eastern parts of the country. Driving in such conditions becomes perilous, with visibility plummeting and the risk of accidents soaring.
While the fog's intensity is expected to decrease in the next 2-3 days, bringing some daytime respite, the cold wave conditions may linger for a few days longer. Increased caution is advised for those venturing out in the mornings and evenings, with warm clothing and fog lights essential for vehicles.
Winter's icy grip may hold on for a while longer, but stay warm and vigilant, for soon enough, the sun will pierce through the haze and bathe the land in the sunshine once more.
Image credit: India TV News