A severe cold wave tightened its grip on Ludhiana, sending the city's night temperature crashing to a chilling 4.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday. This marked the coldest night the industrial hub has experienced in more than three weeks, prompting the meteorological department to sound an orange alert for the region.
Record Chill and Hazardous Fog Blanket Punjab
The intense cold was not isolated to Ludhiana. Across Punjab, temperatures dipped alarmingly. While Amritsar recorded an identical low of 4.4°C, Faridkot became the state's coldest spot at 3.4°C. The cold spell was compounded by a thick blanket of fog that severely disrupted daily life. Visibility levels plummeted to a dangerous 10 meters by 8:30 am, creating treacherous conditions for morning commuters and transport.
This recent reading of 4.4°C stands as the second-lowest temperature of the current winter season, only slightly warmer than the 4.2°C recorded on December 2. Officials noted that Sunday's minimum was nearly a full degree below the normal seasonal average for this time of year.
Official Warnings and Extended Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a two-tier warning system for the coming days. An orange alert remains in effect for Monday, urging authorities to stay prepared for "very dense fog" and the persisting cold wave. This indicates a need for heightened readiness.
For the subsequent period from Tuesday through Thursday, the alert level is downgraded to yellow, signaling that while dense fog conditions will continue, their intensity may lessen slightly. However, the cold wave is expected to hold the region in its grasp for at least the next 48 hours. Forecasts predict daytime maximums will hover around 19°C by mid-week, with nighttime lows stubbornly staying between 4°C and 5°C.
Economic and Social Life Grinds to a Halt
The biting cold has dramatically altered the city's social and economic pulse. Ludhiana's famed evening bazaars and bustling markets, typically vibrant after sunset, wore a deserted look as residents chose to stay indoors. The sharp decline in footfall after 7 pm has hit street vendors and shopkeepers hard.
"The market usually buzzes with activity at this hour, but the intense chill has driven everyone inside," lamented Sarfaraz Ahmed, a fruit vendor in the Field Gunj area, highlighting the direct economic impact. Meanwhile, residents are bundling up in multiple layers of woolens and relying heavily on indoor heating systems to cope with the numbing morning air.
The maximum daytime temperature on Sunday was recorded at 18.2°C, which is 0.5 degrees below normal and two degrees lower than the previous day. This indicates that the cold wave's effect is being felt throughout the day, not just during the night.
