The brief spell of sunshine over Patna has ended abruptly, with the capital city of Bihar bracing for a renewed and intense bout of winter. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Patna issued an orange alert on Saturday, warning of cold day-like conditions expected to persist for the next two days.
Shrinking Temperature Gap Intensifies the Chill
Winter's intensity has peaked in the city as the crucial gap between the maximum and minimum temperatures has narrowed sharply. On Saturday, Patna recorded a maximum temperature of 14.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 10.8 degrees Celsius. With the difference falling below the 5-degree Celsius mark, residents experienced a persistent, bone-chilling cold throughout the entire day.
The absence of significant diurnal variation meant there was little relief even during the afternoon hours. Dense fog blanketed the city, blocking sunlight and trapping the cold. The IMD has placed all 38 districts of Bihar under an orange alert, extending warnings for dense fog until January 8.
Daily Life Gripped by Cold and Fog
The severe conditions are forecast to prevail across northern, south-central, and south-western parts of the state. Moderate to dense fog is expected at several places over the next five days, which will significantly reduce visibility and disrupt normal life.
For the people of Patna, the cold wave has made daily commuting a difficult ordeal. Sneha Singh, who works at a jewellery store, shared her struggle. She explained that by the time her shift ends, the city is engulfed in fog, making it nearly impossible to find auto-rickshaws or cabs after 8 PM as drivers hesitate to navigate in poor visibility. "I often wait for nearly 45 minutes at the stand, shivering in the wind," she said.
College student Ananya echoed similar concerns about her morning commute in an open-sided e-rickshaw (toto). "The icy winds hit you directly. By the time I reach, my hands are so numb I can barely hold my bag," she described.
Street Vendors Face Economic Winter
The harsh weather has also delivered a severe blow to street vendors, impacting their livelihoods. Rita Devi, who has sold vegetables at Dakbungalow crossing for over five decades, said customer footfall has drastically reduced as people opt for online deliveries to avoid the cold. "A lot of stock gets wasted and we face losses," she lamented. For the first time this winter, she arranged a portable heater to keep warm at her stall.
Another vendor, Shobha Devi, has taken to lighting a small bonfire near her stall to brave the evening chill. She noted that while people usually look for winter specialities like mushrooms and broccoli, the severe cold has kept them indoors. "I usually keep the shop open till 10 pm, but now I have to wrap up by 8 pm," she said, highlighting the economic impact of the weather.
Across Bihar, minimum temperatures on Saturday ranged between 6.4 degrees Celsius and 12.7 degrees Celsius, with Sabour in Bhagalpur district recording the lowest at 6.4°C. The IMD's alert signals that residents must prepare for continued severe cold and travel disruptions in the days ahead.
