Colder than Shimla! Delhi shivers under harsh cold wave, IMD explains
Delhi is reeling under an intense cold wave as temperatures plunge below those of hill town Shimla, prompting the IMD to issue an orange alert. With minimum temperatures dipping to nearly 3 degrees Celsius, dense fog, toxic air, and severe pollution have worsened living conditions, disrupted transport, and raised health concerns across north India. Authorities have warned of cold wave impacts, flight delays, and the deadly risks of improper room heater use.
New Delhi: Delhi continues to struggle with biting cold as the mercury dips with each passing day. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the national capital. Winter chills continue to persist, with the early morning temperature recorded at around 3.2 degrees Celsius. The temperature is expected to range between 4 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius, accompanied by very high humidity. Cold wave conditions are likely to prevail throughout the day, from morning to afternoon. The toxic air in the city further worsened the situation. Delhi recorded an AQI of 680 in the morning, which falls under the ‘severe’ category. The freezing weather, combined with rising pollution levels, crippled visibility for daily commuters.
The weather department has also issued a cold wave warning for the coming days in Delhi and surrounding regions, including Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
How has Delhi turned colder than Shimla?
The IMD pointed out an unusual weather pattern after recording lower temperatures in plains such as Delhi and Chandigarh. The national capital experienced one of its coldest days on Saturday, with the mercury at Safdarjung dipping to 4.6 degrees Celsius.
In contrast, Shimla’s maximum temperature was recorded at 16 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature stood at 9 degrees Celsius. Delhi’s weather pattern, however, remained shocking, with minimum temperatures plunging to 3–4.2 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature hovered between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius.
According to M Mohapatra, director general, IMD, the cold persists due to the cloud cover over the hills, which is not allowing the warmth from the day to escape. "A western disturbance is impacting the upper reaches so the night was cloudy. That is why minimum temperatures are higher over the hills."
Dense fog is also very likely at isolated places in Bihar, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand till Thursday, January 15, the IMD said.
The bigger impact
According to the IMD, cold wave and severe cold wave conditions could have multiple impacts, affecting not only health but also agriculture, transport, and other aspects of daily life. People are more prone to illnesses such as flu, a runny or stuffy nose, and nosebleeds, which often set in or worsen due to prolonged exposure to cold.
The weather department has advised people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary exposure. Frostbite can occur due to prolonged exposure to extreme cold, causing the skin to turn pale, hard, and numb. In severe cases, black blisters may appear on exposed body parts such as fingers, toes, the nose, and earlobes. Severe frostbite requires immediate medical attention and treatment.
IGI airport issues advisory
Amid the cold wave, the Indira Gandhi International Airport issued an advisory warning that flights may face delays.
The toxic air in the city further worsened the situation. Delhi recorded an AQI of 680 in the morning, which falls under the ‘severe’ category. The freezing weather, combined with rising pollution levels, crippled visibility for daily commuters.
Be careful with room heaters
At least 14 people have died in Delhi, Bihar, and Kashmir over the past month after suffocating due to room heaters Reports say that people were found dead in closed rooms after becoming unconscious due to the accumulation of toxic air, which led to suffocation. Most of the deaths showed no signs of struggle, as the victims reportedly died in their sleep.