Icy Grips: North India Faces Harsh Cold and Fog Challenges

Northern India experienced intense cold as temperatures plummeted to sub-zero levels in Kashmir and near-freezing levels in Punjab and Haryana. Dense fog reduced visibility and extreme cold led to school closures. Air quality in Delhi remained poor, with GRAP curbs being enforced despite slight weather improvement.

The cold snap persisted across northern India, with temperatures plunging to sub-zero in Kashmir and hovering near freezing in Haryana and Punjab. Dense fog covered major cities, dramatically reducing visibility on Friday morning. The biting cold affected daily life and operations, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In Haryana, Bhiwani stood out as the coldest location with a low of 1.5 degrees Celsius, closely followed by Ballowal Saunkhri in Punjab at 0.9 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Rajasthan and Delhi saw slight relief in temperatures, yet endured below-normal readings.

Visibility issues caused by the fog affected the national capital, further exacerbated by worsening air quality. The AQI in Delhi remained in the 'very poor' range, prompting authorities to continue enforcing GRAP measures. Schools in Noida closed due to the harsh climate conditions.

(With inputs from agencies.)