Jharkhand’s Winter Chill Deepens: Cold Wave Grips State

A significant cold wave is sweeping across Jharkhand, with the Meteorological Department forecasting severe conditions for Ranchi and 11 other districts starting December 26. Residents in Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Gumla, Latehar, Lohardaga, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Khunti, Ranchi, Bokaro, and Ramgarh are advised to prepare for extreme cold. The state saw a stark temperature contrast on December 25, with Gumla registering a low of 4.0°C, making it the coldest spot, while Chaibasa recorded the highest maximum at 27.4°C. The pervasive chill led to minimum temperatures dropping below 10°C in 12 districts, underscoring the severity of the winter weather. Gumla’s 4.0°C was the lowest, followed by Khunti at 6.0°C and Hazaribagh at 7.2°C. For Ranchi, minimum temperatures are expected to range from 7°C to 9°C between December 26 and 29. Maximum temperatures are forecast to remain around 22°C for most of this period, with overnight lows hovering near 7°C, potentially increasing slightly towards the end of December.