Jharkhand News : Dense fog has tightened its grip across Jharkhand, severely affecting air and rail traffic as winter conditions intensify. Visibility dropped sharply in several districts, leading to multiple flight cancellations and delays, while trains also arrived hours behind schedule. The Meteorological Department has warned that foggy conditions may worsen in the coming days, further increasing cold and chill factors across the state.
On Sunday morning, visibility in Ranchi and Jamshedpur fell to around 800 meters, while Deoghar recorded visibility close to 1,000 meters, far below the normal 2,000 meters. Due to poor visibility, one Kolkata–Ranchi flight was cancelled, while five others were delayed by one to two hours. Several trains, including long-distance express services, also reached Ranchi two to three hours late.
Temperatures across the state remained low. Ranchi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.6°C, dipping below the 10-degree mark, while the maximum stood at 23.6°C. Gumla was the coldest district with a minimum temperature of 7.1°C, whereas Chaibasa recorded the highest maximum temperature at 27.4°C.
According to weather scientist Abhishek Anand, fog is likely to persist over the next few days, especially during morning hours. Cold winds entering the state due to clear atmospheric conditions are expected to further enhance the chilling effect. Even light cold winds of around 2 kmph are enough to significantly increase the sensation of cold.
Air operations were badly hit on Sunday. Four flights arriving in Ranchi were cancelled due to poor weather and operational reasons, including Indigo flights from Kolkata, Air India Express from Mumbai, and a late-night flight from Hyderabad. Several other flights from Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were delayed by one to two hours.
Rail services were also impacted. Anand Vihar–Hatia Express arrived two hours late, Kharagpur–Hatia Express by two hours, and Raxaul Express by three hours. Departures from Ranchi were also delayed due to foggy conditions.
The weather department has advised commuters to remain cautious as fog intensity and cold conditions are expected to continue, potentially disrupting daily life and transport services further.
