A severe cold wave has tightened its grip across large parts of India, stretching from Kashmir to West Bengal, disrupting daily life and air travel. In several Himalayan regions, temperatures have plunged below zero, while dense fog in the plains has reduced visibility and caused widespread delays and cancellations.
Kashmir witnessed a sharp drop in temperatures after a brief respite. Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 2 degrees Celsius, while Sonamarg emerged as the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 7.3 degrees. Clear night skies intensified the chill, and the Meteorological Department has warned of possible light snowfall in higher reaches due to an approaching western disturbance.
In Himachal Pradesh, weather officials have forecast light rain and snowfall in upper mountainous areas after December 28. However, popular tourist destinations like Shimla and Manali missed out on a white Christmas, disappointing visitors and impacting tourism businesses.
The cold wave also severely affected air operations. IndiGo cancelled 67 flights across multiple airports due to poor weather conditions and fog. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has declared December 10 to February 10 as the official fog season, allowing operations only by trained pilots and CAT-3B-equipped aircraft.
Rajasthan continues to reel under icy northwesterly winds, while Punjab remains shrouded in dense fog. In West Bengal, Darjeeling recorded the state’s lowest temperature at 4.5 degrees Celsius. Authorities have advised commuters to remain cautious amid low visibility.
