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North India Shivers as Cold Wave Intensifies; Devotees Brave Chill for Magh Mela

A severe cold wave with dense fog continues to disrupt life across North India, significantly reducing visibility in cities like Agra and Delhi. Despite the biting chill, thousands of devotees participated in the holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj as part of the ongoing Magh Mela pilgrimage. Temperatures have plunged sharply, with parts of Delhi recording minimums near 3 degrees Celsius, among the lowest in years. Meanwhile, air quality in the capital remains in the 'poor' category, adding to public health concerns.

Key Points: Severe Cold Wave Grips North India, Disrupts Life and Pilgrimage

  • Dense fog reduces visibility across cities
  • Devotees brave freezing Sangam waters for Magh Mela
  • Delhi records temperatures as low as 2.9°C
  • Air quality remains 'poor' in the capital
  • IMD forecasts persistent cold conditions
3 min read

North India shivers under intense cold wave; Magh Mela draws devotees despite biting chill

Dense fog and freezing temperatures sweep Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana. Devotees defy the cold for a holy dip at Prayagraj's Magh Mela. IMD issues forecasts.

"undeterred by the plunging temperatures - Content"

Agra, January 12

A severe cold wave continued to grip large parts of Uttar Pradesh and north India on Monday morning, with dense fog reducing visibility in several cities even as thousands of devotees braved the freezing conditions to take a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj during the ongoing Magh Mela.

In Agra, a thin layer of fog enveloped the Taj Mahal, creating low-visibility conditions at the Taj View Point area.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city's maximum temperature is expected to hover around 20 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to drop to 7 degrees Celsius as cold conditions intensify.

Despite the extreme cold, devotees continued to arrive in large numbers at the Sangam in Prayagraj, undeterred by the plunging temperatures.

Pilgrims took a holy dip in the early hours of the morning, as the spiritual fervour of the Magh Mela remained strong amid harsh winter conditions.

The Magh Mela of Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), which takes place at the divine Triveni Sangam, the place of confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the legendary Saraswati, is one of the largest pilgrimages in India. The pilgrimage is named after the Hindu month of Magh, which typically falls in January-February.

The Prayag Magh Mela is a 45-day pilgrimage that begins on Paush Purnima (the full moon day of the month of Paush) and ends on Mahashivaratri, spanning the entire month of Magh.

Meanwhile, cold wave conditions were also reported in Haridwar, where dense fog blanketed the Har ki Paudi ghat, significantly affecting visibility.

In Haryana, thick fog engulfed Karnal district as the cold wave intensified. IMD forecasts indicate that the maximum temperature in Karnal is expected to reach 17 degrees Celsius, while the minimum could dip to around 4 degrees Celsius.

Furthermore, Mumbai also witnessed deteriorating air conditions, with a layer of smog lingering over areas such as Wadala on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, New Delhi reeled under an intense cold spell as temperatures dipped sharply across the national capital, with Ayanagar recording the lowest minimum temperature at 2.9 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Several parts of the city witnessed cold wave conditions on Sunday night, with minimum temperatures plunging close to the three-degree mark. Palam recorded a minimum temperature of 3.0 degrees Celsius, its lowest in several years. IMD data suggests that similar cold conditions are likely to persist through the day.

At Safdarjung, the minimum temperature was 4.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday night and is expected to drop further to around 3 degrees Celsius tonight. The Ridge station recorded a minimum temperature of 3.7 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature there reached 18.8 degrees Celsius.

Furthermore, air pollution levels remained a concern. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 293, falling under the 'poor' category as of 7 am on Monday. This marked a slight rise compared to Saturday's AQI reading of 291.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
In Delhi, it's not just the cold, it's the deadly combination of cold and poor AQI. My child's school has already declared a fog holiday. When will we get a permanent solution for the winter pollution? It's a yearly crisis now.
A
Aman W
The picture of the foggy Taj must be beautiful, but for daily commuters and farmers, this cold wave is a nightmare. Crops are getting damaged, and road/rail delays are immense. IMD forecasts are helpful, but ground-level support from the government is lacking.
S
Sarah B
Visiting from Canada, and I'm amazed by the scale of the Magh Mela. The spiritual commitment in such weather is something you don't see everywhere. Stay warm and safe, everyone. The cultural resilience is remarkable.
V
Vikram M
While we admire the devotion, I have a respectful criticism. Are we doing enough to ensure the Sangam waters are clean for these dips? Pollution in our sacred rivers is a year-round issue that needs urgent attention alongside managing the crowds.
K
Kavya N
My nani (grandmother) is in Karnal and says the fog is so thick you can't see the neighbour's house! Everyone is just huddled around heaters. We need better cold wave preparedness, especially for vulnerable people in villages. ❄️

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