Cold Wave Tightens Grip Over North India; Madhya Pradesh Worst Hit as Dense Fog Disrupts Normal Life
A severe cold wave continues to affect large parts of North India, with Madhya Pradesh emerging as one of the worst-hit states. Plunging temperatures, dense fog, and chilly winds have significantly disrupted daily life, transport, and educational activities across several districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple alerts, warning that cold wave and fog conditions are likely to persist over the next few days.
Across Madhya Pradesh, minimum temperatures have dropped sharply, with many regions recording figures well below the seasonal average.
Naugaon in Chhatarpur district reported one of the lowest temperatures in the state, hovering around 2–3°C. Cities including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, and Sagar experienced extremely dense fog during early morning hours, reducing visibility to as low as 20–50 metres in some areas.
Thick fog has caused widespread disruption
Road travel has been severely affected, with poor visibility on highways increasing the risk of accidents.Rail services passing through MP faced delays as safety protocols slowed operations.Flights at airports such as Indore and Bhopal were delayed or rescheduled due to low visibility during early hours.
Authorities have advised commuters to avoid non-essential travel, use fog lamps, and follow traffic advisories strictly.
In view of the harsh cold, district administrations in several parts of Madhya Pradesh ordered temporary closure of schools, especially for primary classes. In districts where schools remain open, morning timings have been revised to protect students from exposure to extreme cold and fog. Parents have been advised to ensure children wear adequate winter clothing.
The cold wave has also intensified health concerns, particularly for the elderly, children, and people suffering from respiratory illnesses. Combined with stagnant air conditions, fog has contributed to poor air quality in urban centres, worsening breathing difficulties and prompting doctors to advise limited outdoor activity during early mornings and late nights.
Cold wave conditions persist beyond MP
Beyond Madhya Pradesh, cold wave conditions persist across Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Dense fog continues to blanket these regions during night and early morning hours, disrupting traffic and transport services. In the hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, snowfall in higher reaches has further intensified cold conditions in adjoining plains.
The IMD has warned that cold wave and dense fog conditions are likely to continue for the next few days, particularly over central and northern India. Cold north-westerly winds are expected to maintain low temperatures, while fog may persist during night and morning hours.
As winter reaches its peak, the ongoing cold wave has brought daily life in Madhya Pradesh and North India to a standstill in many areas. While authorities continue to monitor the situation and issue advisories, relief from the biting cold is expected only after weather conditions gradually improve later this month.
By ANASUYA ROY