Cold waves, dense fog and fresh snowfall have hit several parts of India, with temperatures dropping below freezing point. Dense fog prevailed in Delhi-NCR, even as GRAP 3 restrictions were revoked in the region due to a dip in pollution levels, affecting the air, rail and road traffic movements.
Low visibility conditions due to dense fog have been impacting the flight operations at Delhi airport for the past three days.
The mercury also neared the freezing point in several parts of Kashmir Valley as many areas received fresh snowfall on Sunday. Cold wave conditions also prevailed in many regions in Haryana and Punjab as well.
Due to the cold wave situation in the state, the Jharkhand government has announced the closure of schools from kindergarten to Class-8 from January 7-13.
The suspension of classes will be applicable to all schools including government, aided, and private.
Snowfall was witnessed in several areas of Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara districts in north Kashmir and some parts of Budgam and Ganderbal districts in central Kashmir.
The night temperature in the Valley dipped sharply, with Kokernag in south Kashmir freezing at minus 8.1 degrees Celsius.
"Compared to Saturday's 9-hour zero visibility spell, Palam experienced a relatively shorter duration of 3.5 hours of zero visibility on Sunday," an official was quoted by PTI.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rain in northwest India over the next two-three days due to back-to-back western disturbances.
Kupwara in north Kashmir registered a night temperature of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius. While, Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius, and Pahalgam minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
Narnaul in Haryana recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 6.8 degrees Celsius. While Karnal recorded a low of 8 degrees Celsius, Ambala 8.3 degrees Celsius, and Hisar 8.8 degrees Celsius.
In Punjab, the mercury settled at 7.4 degrees Celsius in Bathinda and 7.9 degrees Celsius in Amritsar.
Chandigarh also recorded a low of 8.4 degrees Celsius.
