Jharkhand to witness cold wave conditions till Dec 26

Ranchi: There is no respite from biting cold on Christmas Day, as half of the districts in Jharkhand are likely to witness cold wave on Thursday and Friday. Several parts of the state are likely to witness shallow to moderate fog as well, resulting in poor visibility.

The fog, coupled with a dip in minimum temperatures, is expected to add to winter discomfort among revellers venturing out early.Despite the chill, the festive spirit remains high in Ranchi and across the state, with churches and public places beautifully decorated. Markets are bustling with activity, offering a variety of delicacies, as large numbers of people brave the cold and throng shopping areas to buy essentials and celebrate the occasion.The Ranchi office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued yellow alert for 12 districts located in the north-western and central parts of the state, warning of a cold wave situation, on Thursday and Friday.The alert has been issued for Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Koderma, Hazaribag, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro and Khunti districts. The met department has also predicted that the minimum temperature across the state likely to witness a dip by 2-3 °C for three days starting from Thursday.

Ranchi IMD scientist Abhishek Anand said that adjoining districts to Bihar likely to witness dense fog like situation on Thursday. “The other parts of the state will witness dip in minimum temperatures during the early morning hours. People must adopt safety measures as they will venture out of their homes for celebration. They must cover themselves with warm cloths so that their bodies remain warm. However, after two –three days minimum temperature is likely to rise in the state, bringing a little relief,” Anand said.Gumla district witnessed cold wave on Wednesday, recoding the lowest minimum temperature, 3.9 °C. Meanwhile other places across the state also recorded up to 3.6 °C dip in minimum temperatures.Ranchi recorded a minimum temperature of 8.5 °C on Wednesday, recording a dip of 0.8 °C from the normal temperature. Similarly, Daltonganj recorded 6.1 °C, dipping 3.1 °C from the normal. Bokaro recorded a minimum temperature of 8.2°C, marking a dip of 3.6 °C on Wednesday.