Post date: Jan 04, 2014 11:59:10 AM
The teeth chattering cold wave disrupts normal life as temperatures plummet and dense fog results in poor visibility in North India
NEW DELHI, INDIA (JANUARY 04, 2014) (ANI) - The teeth chattering cold disrupted normal life as temperatures plummeted and dense fog resulted in poor visibility on Saturday (January 04) in North India
Biting cold and icy winds have magnified the agony of people living on the streets, as most of them gathered around bonfires to fight the chill."The cold is becoming very severe and this bonfire is the only relief for us. It is very foggy these days. As the temperature continues to dip, the fire is our only respite," said a homeless poor, Shankar.
A common sight was of people sitting around bonfires on pavements along roadsides across north Indian cities, wearing woollens and warm clothes to beat the cold and rough weather conditions.
Snowfall in the upper reaches has dipped mercury in the north Indian states of Punjab,Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh as well as in Rajasthan.
A resident of Bareilly city, Saradha, said that with bone chilling cold hitting the northern region, there is no respite for people who somehow try to keep themselves warm, besides wearing multiple layers of clothing.
"It is very cold in Bareilly city. In higher altitudes, the temperature has dropped further and due to strong cold winds there, the temperatures is falling here also. Wearing warm clothes does not appear to solve the problem of this biting cold during these severe winters. Even children are facing a lot of problems. The schools will reopen from Monday but there is no relief from this cold wave. Dense fog is also engulfing the city," opined Saradha
An unabated cold wave also swept many places, leaving residents distressed and forced to stay within the warmer confines of their houses.
In higher altitudes, the temperature has even dropped to the sub-zero level, with some states witnessing lowest minimum temperatures.
Located in the tropics, most of India witnesses very hot summers and largely temperate winters.