Rajasthan in grip of severe cold wave: Fatehpur records -1.7 deg C, layer of ice covers grass in Sikar

NEW DELHI: The city of Sikar in Rajasthan is experiencing a severe cold wave, affecting the lives of its residents. The Fatehpur district, in particular, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday, according to the Fatehpur Agricultural Research Centre. This bone-chilling cold has had a significant impact on Fatehpur and the surrounding areas.
The current temperature of -1.7 degrees Celsius is the lowest recorded this season.The outer areas of Sikar have witnessed a layer of ice on crops and grass. In response, people have resorted to bonfires and bundled up in warm clothes. Although the weather was clear on Thursday, the Meteorological Department predicts that the cold may intensify in the coming days.
Other parts of North India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana, are also facing the brunt of the harsh cold. In Bihar's East Champaran district, a sixth-grade student tragically passed away during a prayer session at school on Wednesday as he was not wearing warm clothes. Meanwhile, Delhi experienced its coldest day this winter on Tuesday, with the minimum temperature dropping to 5.3 degrees Celsius.
To provide relief to homeless individuals in the national capital, government-run night shelters have been set up. These shelters offer blankets, beds, hot water, and food to those seeking refuge from the cold. The extreme cold weather in Delhi has led to a record peak winter power demand of 5,611 MW on Wednesday.
Due to foggy conditions in various parts of the country, around 24 trains are expected to arrive late in Delhi on Thursday, according to railway officials. Delays of approximately 4 hours are anticipated for trains such as the Katihar-Amritsar Express, the Azamgarh-Delhi Junction Kaifiyat Express, the Kamakhya-Delhi Junction Brahmputra Mail, and the Seoni-Ferozpur Express. Other trains, including the Bhubneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Secunderabad-Nizamuddin, Chennai-New Delhi GT, and Manikpur-Nizamuddin Express, are likely to be delayed by about 2.15 hours. The Ajmer-Katra Pooja Express is running late by 6 hours, as per railway data.
The India Meteorological Department predicts that foggy conditions will persist during the morning hours in isolated pockets of northwest India for the next three to four days.