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Devotees Brave Biting Cold For Ganga Dip In Varanasi; Dense Fog Disrupts North India

Devotees continued their morning rituals with a holy dip in the Ganga at Varanasi's Dashashwamedh Ghat despite temperatures dropping to 9 degrees Celsius. Simultaneously, dense fog enveloped several cities including Prayagraj, Agra, and Ayodhya, reducing visibility and leading to the cancellation of two commercial flights at Ayodhya's airport. The India Meteorological Department has forecast persistent cold day and foggy conditions across the region.

Key Points: Varanasi Ganga Rituals Continue Amid Cold Wave; Fog Disrupts Flights In Ayodhya, Agra

  • Devotees in Varanasi perform rituals despite cold wave
  • IMD reports persistent cold conditions across Uttar Pradesh
  • Dense fog leads to flight cancellations at Ayodhya airport
  • Iconic Taj Mahal obscured by thick fog in Agra
  • Similar foggy conditions reported in Prayagraj and Moradabad
  • Locals resort to bonfires to combat the chilling temperatures
2 min read

Ganga rituals continue in Varanasi despite dropping temperatures; dense fog blankets Prayagraj

Despite temperatures dropping to 9°C, devotees took a holy dip in Varanasi. Dense fog blankets Prayagraj, Agra, and Ayodhya, leading to flight cancellations and low visibility.

"Devotees in Varanasi braved the biting cold on Sunday morning to take a holy dip in the Ganga River, as the city continues to experience low temperatures amid a persistent cold wave. - ANI Report"

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), December 21

Devotees in Varanasi braved the biting cold on Sunday morning to take a holy dip in the Ganga River, as the city continues to experience low temperatures amid a persistent cold wave.

Devotees were seen immersing themselves in the Ganga and offering prayers at Dashashwamedh Ghat despite the early morning chill.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Varanasi recorded a minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, with cold conditions expected to persist throughout the day.

Meanwhile, in Prayagraj, residents faced similarly cold conditions as mercury levels dipped and dense fog settled over the city. The IMD issued a forecast for "dense or very dense fog with cold day conditions," with a minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius.

Locals were seen huddling around smouldering fires to keep warm in the chilly morning hours.

Meanwhile, two scheduled commercial flights were cancelled at Maharishi Valmiki International Airport on Sunday, according to officials at Ayodhya Airport Authority of India (AAI).

The cancelled services include Air India Express flight IX1284/IX1274, operating on the Delhi-Ayodhya-Delhi sector, and SpiceJet flight SG615/SG614, scheduled on the Mumbai-Ayodhya-Ahmedabad route.

The cancellations come amid persistent dense fog in the region, which has significantly reduced visibility and triggered low-visibility operational procedures at the airport. Similar advisories have been issued in the past few days as fog continues to affect northern India.

Earlier today, the Taj Mahal appeared to vanish behind a thick veil of fog on Sunday morning as dense mist enveloped Agra, sharply reducing visibility across the city.

Visuals from the Taj View Point ADA showed the iconic monument barely visible.

Similar conditions were witnessed in Ayodhya, where a dense layer of fog covered the city during the early morning hours. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature in Ayodhya was recorded at 8 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 16 degrees Celsius.

Moradabad also woke up to foggy conditions as a cold wave swept through the region. The IMD reported that the minimum temperature in Moradabad stood at 10 degrees Celsius, with the maximum expected to reach around 19 degrees Celsius.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The fog situation is getting really serious now. Flight cancellations in Ayodhya and visibility so low the Taj Mahal disappears? IMD needs to issue clearer warnings earlier. People's travel plans are getting ruined.
D
David E
Visiting Varanasi last winter was an experience. The devotion is palpable, but the cold by the ghats at dawn is something else entirely. Hats off to the resilience of the people. Stay warm, everyone.
A
Aditya G
While faith is commendable, I hope the local administration is providing proper facilities - maybe some temporary shelters or bonfires near the ghats for people after their dip. Safety and health should also be a priority in this cold wave.
S
Sneha F
The picture of the Taj Mahal vanishing in the fog must be surreal. On one hand it's beautiful, on the other it's a major hazard. Drive safe if you're in UP or Delhi NCR today. The roads will be treacherous.
K
Karthik V
Typical North Indian winter! 🥶 From Prayagraj to Ayodhya, the same story. Reminds me of my childhood in Kanpur. Everyone huddled around the *angeethi* (brazier). Hope the poor and homeless are getting some relief from the municipalities.

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