Thu Dec 26 04:34:00 UTC 2024: **Severe Cold Wave Sweeps North India, Disrupts Life and Tourism**
**New Delhi, December 26, 2024** – A severe cold wave continues to grip North India, impacting daily life and disappointing tourists hoping for a white Christmas. While some areas, like Solang valley in Manali, enjoyed paragliding opportunities following fresh snowfall, major tourist destinations such as Srinagar and Shimla experienced bright sunshine instead of the anticipated snowfall.
Srinagar recorded a chilling low of -7.3 degrees Celsius, while Tabo in Himachal Pradesh plummeted to -10.6 degrees Celsius, the coldest temperature in the state. The cold wave affected Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, with minimum temperatures dropping significantly across Kashmir, freezing water bodies and supply lines. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a further 2-3 degree drop in Kashmir’s minimum temperatures over the next two days.
Tourists in Srinagar expressed disappointment at the lack of snowfall, contrasting it with past “white Christmases.” In Himachal Pradesh, heavy snowfall led to the closure of 226 roads, including three national highways, and disrupted power supply due to 173 damaged transformers. While Shimla enjoyed sunshine, the IMD forecasts rain and snow in isolated areas from Friday evening to Sunday.
Dense fog blanketed many parts of Rajasthan, and a “cold day” was recorded in western Rajasthan. Punjab and Haryana also experienced persistent cold, with Faridkot recording the lowest minimum temperature at 4.2 degrees Celsius. Uttar Pradesh saw clearer weather after two days of rain, but colder temperatures remain. Delhi experienced a relatively milder Christmas Day, with a maximum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius.
First Piper 