Residents of Bihar woke up to an arctic blast this morning, with Gaya reeling under a record low of 4.1 degrees Celsius. The sudden temperature crash has transformed bustling streets into ghost towns shrouded in impenetrable fog.
The IMD’s red alert for cold wave conditions signals no quick thaw. Visibility plummeted below 50 meters in Patna and surrounding areas, leading to a spike in vehicular mishaps. Schools shut down preemptively, while offices operate on reduced hours.
Community responses shine through the gloom. Volunteers in Gaya distributed hot khichdi and woolens to the needy, turning temples into warming centers. ‘We’ve adapted by staying indoors and using electric heaters, but not everyone can afford it,’ shared a local shopkeeper.
Experts link the extreme weather to shifting jet streams influenced by La Niña patterns. Long-range forecasts warn of prolonged cold through the week, potentially breaking seasonal records. Energy consumption has soared 20%, straining the grid.
Beyond immediate hardships, this event spotlights Bihar’s vulnerability to weather extremes. Infrastructure upgrades for fog management and better early warning systems are urgently needed. For now, citizens hunker down, hoping for sunshine to pierce the freeze.