The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Ranchi office has raised a yellow alert for a severe cold wave, impacting daily life across Jharkhand. The alert warns of harsh conditions in a dozen districts, leading to pre-emptive school closures and travel disruptions.
Districts Under Alert and Plummeting Temperatures
On Saturday, the cold wave alert covers twelve districts: Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Chatra, Gumla, Lohardaga, Ranchi, Khunti, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Hazaribag, and Koderma. The alert narrows down to six districts for Sunday: Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, and Chatra.
Scientists attribute the chill to prevailing north-westerly to westerly winds. Abhishek Anand, a scientist at Ranchi IMD, stated that the minimum temperature is expected to drop further over the next 48 hours. Recorded minimum temperatures on Friday highlight the severity:
- Gumla: 2.8°C (Lowest in the state this season)
- Daltonganj: 5.6°C (A decrease of 3.6°C)
- Ranchi: 7°C (A dip of 2.3°C)
- Bokaro: 7.5°C (A dip of 4.3°C)
- Chaibasa: 9.2°C
- Jamshedpur: 10°C
Anand noted that the western part of the state, including Gumla, experiences such intense cold annually. The current spell recalls the record low of 1.2°C recorded in Kullu, Chatra, on January 15, 2024.
Immediate Impact: School Closures and Flight Cancellations
In response to the harsh conditions, the district education office in Ranchi has suspended classes for all students from kindergarten to Class 12. The suspension is in effect for all government and private schools from December 27 to December 31. The order was issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Samhita.
Air travel has also been significantly affected. On Friday, ten flights were cancelled at Ranchi's airport. The affected services included:
- IndiGo flights: 6E 7089/7014 (Kolkata–Ranchi–Kolkata) and 6E 7674/7235 (Kolkata–Ranchi–Kolkata).
- Air India Express flights: IX 1046/1047 (Delhi–Ranchi–Delhi), IX 1239/1248 (Bengaluru–Ranchi–Bengaluru), and IX 1237/1238 (Mumbai–Ranchi–Mumbai).
Staying Safe During the Cold Spell
The extended yellow alert indicates a significant weather event requiring public caution. Residents in the affected districts are advised to limit early morning and late evening exposure, wear adequate layered clothing, and check on vulnerable community members. The IMD continues to monitor the situation, and further updates on temperature trends and alert levels are expected as the cold wave persists over the weekend.
