Jharkhand News : Jharkhand is currently witnessing an intense spell of cold weather, with dense fog and cold wave conditions affecting large parts of the state. The change in weather has been attributed to western disturbances, snowfall in northern India, and moisture-laden winds coming from the southeast.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Ranchi, 14 districts are likely to experience severe cold and dense fog over the next three days. These districts include Ranchi, Gumla, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Bokaro, Giridih, Dhanbad, Deoghar, and Jamtara. The department has warned that the cold wave conditions may persist until December 22.
Morning and late-night hours are witnessing thick fog, leading to a sharp drop in visibility and a significant fall in temperatures. Several regions are experiencing near cold wave conditions, severely impacting daily life.
Cold Turns Fatal in Some Areas
The harsh cold has already claimed lives in parts of the state. Two deaths due to cold have been reported from Hazaribagh. In Palamu district’s Hussainabad block, a tragic incident occurred in Phuldiha village under Benikala Panchayat, where a grandmother and her granddaughter died of suffocation after sleeping in a closed room with a burning coal stove (angithi).
Temperature Drops Below 10°C in Several Districts
Minimum temperatures have fallen below 10 degrees Celsius in at least nine districts, including Palamu. Dense fog has reduced visibility on highways, increasing the risk of road accidents and causing inconvenience to commuters.
Air and Rail Traffic Affected
Weather conditions have disrupted transportation services as well. At Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, 14 flights were delayed due to fog, while IndiGo cancelled its Ranchi–Delhi and Ranchi–Bengaluru flights. Several long-distance trains also reached Ranchi behind schedule.
Latest Temperature Update
Over the past 24 hours, minimum temperatures showed a slight increase. Ranchi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.5°C, up by 0.4 degrees, while the maximum temperature stood at 22.8°C. The coldest location in the state was Kanke (Ranchi), where the minimum temperature dropped to 6.3°C.
Meteorological officials have advised people to remain cautious, especially during early morning and night hours, and to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from extreme cold.
