Uttar Pradesh is reeling under a double spell of severe cold and cold wave conditions, with the state witnessing the densest fog of the season on Saturday. Dense fog was reported from 53 districts, including Lucknow and Kanpur, since morning, reducing visibility to near zero at several places.
The fog severely disrupted road, rail and air traffic across the state. In many areas, visibility dropped to such low levels that commuters struggled to see even a few metres ahead. Icy winds added to the chill, forcing people travelling in vehicles to cover their hands and faces, while bonfires were seen across residential areas.
According to official data, Azamgarh, Kanpur, Ayodhya and Hardoi were the coldest districts in the past 24 hours, recording a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius.
In view of the prevailing cold wave, district administrations in Noida, Greater Noida, Saharanpur, Badaun and Sambhal have ordered the closure of schools up to Class 8.
Train services were hit hard, with over 50 trains on the Gorakhpur–Lucknow–Prayagraj route running late by one to ten hours. Even premium services, including Vande Bharat and Shatabdi Express trains, failed to maintain schedules. Flight operations were also affected, with passengers reporting long delays at airports.
The India Meteorological Department said snowfall in the higher reaches has led to a sharp drop in temperatures across Uttar Pradesh. Most districts are currently under a ‘cold day’ alert, and cold wave conditions are likely to continue for the next four to five days.
January 18: Light rain or drizzle is likely at isolated places in western Uttar Pradesh. Cold winds are expected to continue, increasing the chill factor across most districts.January 19: Drizzle may persist in parts of western UP, while cloud cover is likely to increase over several districts in eastern UP. Cold winds will remain active, keeping day temperatures low.
The Meteorological Department has warned that cold day conditions may continue in many districts over the next few days.
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