Punjab, January, a thick blanket of fog has enveloped Punjab and Chandigarh, severely impacting visibility and disrupting daily life. With zero visibility recorded in cities like Amritsar, Pathankot, and Chandigarh, the transportation network, including air travel, has been chaotic. Tragically, one person succumbed to the extreme cold in Jalandhar, highlighting the harshness of the ongoing cold wave.
Fog throws airports into disarray
The fog spreading across Punjab on Friday evening led to significant disruption at Chandigarh and Amritsar airports. Two international flights were diverted due to poor visibility, a flight from Bangkok was redirected to Lucknow, while a Malaysia Airlines plane was rerouted to Delhi. No takeoffs or landings have been reported at Chandigarh airport since with all flights being rescheduled.
This unprecedented disruption came without prior warnings from the Meteorological Department, leaving passengers stranded and airlines scrambling for alternative arrangements.
Western disturbance brings hopes of rain
Relief may be on the horizon, as the Meteorological Department predicts the activation of a western disturbance later tonight. The disturbance is expected to bring rainfall and storms to Punjab and Chandigarh on January 5 and 6. This weather shifts cold and brings temporary relief from the dense fog but may also result in cooler daytime temperatures, dropping by 2-3°C. Nighttime temperatures, however, are likely to rise slightly by the same margin.
City-specific forecast include
- Chandigarh: light clouds with temperatures ranging between 11 °C and 16°C
- Amritsar: light clouds, temperatures from 9°C to 17°C
- Jalandhar: similar cloudy conditions with temperatures between 9°C and 17°C
- Ludhiana: light clouds temperatures from 9°C to 18 °C
Cold wave claims a life in Jalandhar
In a grim development, one unidentified individual succumbed to the cold in Jalandhar on Friday. The body has been sent for post-mortem at the Civil Hospital, where it remain in the mortuary for 72 hours while authorities attempted to identify the deceased.
Weather patterns in flux
On Friday afternoon, brief sunshine brought a slight respite, with a 2.2°C average rise in Punjab’s maximum temperature recorded. However, the respite was short-lived as fog rolled in by evening. Today on Saturday there is no sun ray, but thick layers of fog around.
However, the coming days promise a mix of relief and challenges as residents for rain and potentially shifting temperatures. Experts advise people to take precautions, especially during the early mornings and evenings when the cold is most severe.
Stay tuned for more updates on the weather and travel conditions.