IMD issues severe cold wave warning for Punjab, Haryana, parts of Gujarat and north Rajasthan

The Met department has forecasted a fall in minimum temperatures by 2-4 degree Celsius over most parts of northwest and adjoining central India and Gujarat during the next four to five days. Dense fog likely over Punjab, Haryana, and northeast Indian states.

Gaon Connection
| Updated: December 16th, 2021

On December 14, there was a sudden decrease in the night temperatures of the Saurashtra-Kutch region.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of severe cold wave conditions over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Saurashtra and
Kutch in Gujarat, and north Rajasthan.

In its press release issued today, December 16, the Met department has forecasted a fall in minimum temperatures by 2-4 degree Celsius (C) over most parts of northwest and adjoining central India and Gujarat during the next four to five days.

The IMD has also forecasted a drop in temperature of 2-3 degree C over most parts of east India and Maharashtra during the next four days. Meanwhile, dense to very dense fog is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

There are also chances of light to moderate isolated rainfall/snowfall over the Western Himalayan region in the next two days, and light isolated rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Also Read: ‘Despite dropping by 30%, winter air pollution in Delhi expected to remain dangerous till 2030’

On December 14, there was a sudden decrease in the night temperatures of the Saurashtra-Kutch region. Kandla Airport and Keshod recorded 10 degree C whereas Bhuj and Rajkot at 11 degree C, followed by Kandla Port and Gandhinagar recorded 12 degree C, and Ahmedabad registered 14 degree C.

According to the Met department, there is an increased likelihood of various illnesses like flu, running/stuffy nose or nosebleed, which usually set in or get aggravated due to prolonged exposure to cold. It has further warned that frostbite can occur due to prolonged exposure to cold. The skin turns pale, hard and numb and eventually black blisters appear on exposed body parts such as fingers, toes, nose and or earlobes. Severe frostbite needs immediate medical attention and treatment.

The IMD has also warned of health effects due to fog. “Dense fog contains particulate matter and other pollutants and in case exposed it gets lodged in the lungs, clogging them and decreasing their functional capacity which increases episodes of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath,” the press statement reads. Fog can have an impact on people having asthma bronchitis. “Long time exposure to dense fog may cause respiratory problem for people having asthma, bronchitis and other lung related health problems,” the IMD has cautioned.

Also Read: Subsidy worth crores, monetary fines and seeder technology too; but no end to stubble burning in Punjab