Severe weather conditions have tightened their grip on North India, with dense fog and biting cold disrupting daily life in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, avalanche risks persisting in Himachal Pradesh, and heavy snowfall blocking roads across Uttarakhand. Conditions are likely to see a shift on January 31 and February 1, with a fresh spell of clouds and rain accompanied by strong winds. Rain is expected across several regions, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the Delhi-NCR on February 1.
Fog Engulfs Delhi-UP In Morning
Dense fog enveloped Delhi in the morning, significantly reducing visibility and disrupting road, rail, and air traffic. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cold wave warning. Minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 8-10 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperature can reach 17-20 degrees Celsius.
Dense fog and cold wave conditions persist in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Noida, and Saharanpur. In western and central Uttar Pradesh, the fog is denser in the mornings and evenings, making the cold even more intense.
In Himachal Pradesh, three avalanches struck Bharmour and Pangi in Chamba district. Three shops and two pickup trucks were buried in the avalanche late Tuesday night. No one was inside the shops or vehicles at the time of the accident. Piles of snow, rocks, and mud have piled up around the shops.
A tourist car skidded on snow and fell into a field in Haripurdhar, Sirmaur district. Jagpal, a resident of Panchkula, Haryana, died in the accident, jagran.com reported.
Tourist traffic continues in Dhanaulti, Auli, Buranskhanda, Kanatal, and Tehri. Snowfall has disrupted more than two dozen connecting roads in the state. Kedarnath is covered in three to four feet of snow. ITBP and police personnel deployed to protect the shrine are busy clearing snow from residential buildings.
Drinking water and electricity supplies have also been affected in many areas of the state. Teams from the Border Roads Organization and the Public Works Department are clearing roads blocked by snow. According to IMD, light snowfall and rain are expected in the mountainous regions on Thursday.
Jammu-Kashmir Highway Partially Reopens
The Jammu-Srinagar highway, which was closed for two days due to heavy snowfall and slippery conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, was partially reopened on Wednesday and vehicles stranded on the road were evacuated. Meanwhile, air services from Srinagar International Airport resumed as the weather improved after all flights were cancelled a day earlier. Meanwhile, a massive landslide near Hasti Bridge in Kishtwar district buried dozens of cattle, although a group of shepherds had a narrow escape.
A massive avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist resort in Kashmir's Ganderbal district around 10:30 pm on Tuesday. Snow entered some homes and hotels and damaged several parked vehicles. No one was killed in the avalanche. According to IMD, more snowfall is expected.
Hailstorm In UP, Punjab And Haryana
Hailstorms occurred at isolated locations in western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and central Maharashtra. Strong winds, reaching speeds of 30-95 kmph, were observed in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Dense to very dense fog prevailed at isolated locations in Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan, with visibility reduced to 50 metres in many areas.
The lowest minimum temperature in the plains was recorded at 3.7 degrees Celsius in Amritsar, Punjab. Furthermore, a western disturbance is expected from January 31st to February 2nd. This is expected to affect the western Himalayan region as well as the northwestern part of the country.
Uttarakhand Weather
After heavy rain and snowfall in Uttarakhand, the weather has cleared. Sunshine from the mountains to the plains has brought relief, but snowfall in the mountainous regions continues to pose challenges. The weather may change again next Saturday. Scattered light rain and snowfall is expected in the mountainous regions of Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh, while dry weather is expected in the plains.