Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Severe cold wave conditions have gripped North India, with heavy snowfall bringing life to a standstill in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. In contrast, the national capital struggles under a thick blanket of smog, affecting visibility and disrupting travel.
Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Travel in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and J&K
Himachal Pradesh has reported significant snowfall, leading to the closure of 226 roads, including three national highways. Key areas like Shimla, Lahaul and Spiti, and Kullu remain heavily affected, with 123, 36, and 25 roads respectively closed due to snow accumulation. Power supply disruptions were also reported, with 173 transformers malfunctioning across the state.
Uttarakhand faced severe travel issues as snowfall halted traffic along a 30-kilometer stretch of the Tyuni-Chakrata-Mussoorie National Highway. Tourists from Delhi were stranded on the Dharanadhar-Koti Kanasar road, highlighting the challenging conditions.
In Jammu and Kashmir, temperatures in Srinagar plummeted to -7°C, transforming the region into a picturesque winter wonderland but also causing significant hardships for residents and visitors alike.
IMD Issues Alerts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ alert for Himachal Pradesh, warning of severe cold wave conditions and potential rain or snow over the weekend. “Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on December 26,” the IMD stated.
Smog Engulfs Delhi-NCR
Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog on Thursday, pushing the air quality index (AQI) into the ‘very poor’ category. Visibility dropped significantly, causing disruptions in flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), with at least 83 flight departures delayed since midnight.
The IMD recorded a minimum temperature of 7°C in Delhi, forecasting light rainfall on Friday and Saturday and a ‘yellow’ alert for dense fog on Sunday.
An advisory from Delhi Airport urged passengers to stay updated on flight information due to low visibility procedures being implemented.
