Orange alert issued in these districts of Punjab, check details

Weather update: Biting cold gripped several districts of Punjab and the adjoining states with the minimum temperature dropping to 6 degrees Celsius today. 

Dense fog, low clouds and low visibility persists over several districts of Punjab due to which travellers and passengers all across the Punjab face delays, cancellation in aviation, road transport and train operations, thus paralysing the normal life in state. 

Orange Alert in Punjab & Haryana 

Orange alert has been issued in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The influence of a Western Disturbance increases the likelihood of rain in all three regions, with the possibility of snowfall in Himachal Pradesh. 
The Indian Meteorological Department has also issued a warning for dense fog in several districts of Haryana and Punjab.

Rain Alert in Punjab

The weather forecast report indicates a 25 percent chance of rain today in various districts of Punjab, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Mohali, and Chandigarh. 

Meanwhile, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and at isolated places in west Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan is expected to witness thunderstorm/lightning/hail. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted light rain and snowfall in Himachal’s Shimla, Chamba, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti. 

Schools shut due to Cold Wave

Due to prevailing cold weather conditions across Punjab, Punjab Government extended winter holidays from January 8 to 14 for classes up to the 10th grade.  While the timings of the students from Class 9 to 12 have been changed to – 10 am to 3 pm. 

How cold winter wave can affect health? 

Dense fog and cold winter wave contains particulate matter and other pollutants and in case exposed it gets lodged in the lungs, clogging them and decreasing their functional capacity which increases episodes of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. The fog conditions may tend to irritate the membranes of the eye causing various infections leading to redness or swelling of the eye.