Winter Chaos: Himachal Freezes at -14º, Fog Grounds Flights, Trains Delayed

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The intense cold continues to grip the northern states of India. Following heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, temperatures in five areas have dropped below freezing. Tabo recorded a minimum of -14.7°C, Samdo -9.3°C, Kukumsari -6.9°C, Kalpa -2°C, and Manali 2.8°C.

In addition to the cold, dense fog is affecting 14 states across the country. Amritsar airport was shut down due to zero visibility, halting flight operations, while Delhi Airport recorded just 50 meters of visibility, disrupting flights from SpiceJet, Indigo, and Air India.

The fog also caused major disruptions in Uttar Pradesh, with 30 cities experiencing poor visibility. At Agra railway station, train delays stretched up to 7 hours, and visibility in Bulandshahr dropped to just 5 meters. In Madhya Pradesh, visibility was reduced to less than 100 meters in several places. Schools in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, were closed due to the severe cold and fog, and school timings were altered in Patna. In Jammu and Kashmir, heavy snowfall was reported in Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, and Anantnag, while lighter snowfall occurred in the plains of Srinagar and Ganderbal. Fresh snowfall was also recorded in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, and Zojila. The Meteorological Department has predicted further snowfall in some areas on Friday, with a western disturbance expected to bring more snow between January 4 and 6.