IMD issues orange alert for 26 districts as cold day conditions persist in state

Patna: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Patna, on Sunday issued an orange alert for 26 districts across the state, urging residents to “be prepared for imminent danger” as cold day conditions intensified amid high humidity and icy westerly winds sweeping the region. The weather office also forecast light to moderate fog across the state over the next three days.

Patna recorded a maximum temperature of 16.8 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 12.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, reflecting the severity of the cold spell. Over the past 24 hours, Gaya reported the lowest minimum temperature in the state at 8.0 degrees Celsius, while Kishanganj recorded the highest maximum temperature at 22.1 degrees Celsius.


Scientist at IMD Patna Anand Shankar said, “The dip in temperature has impacted a large population, necessitating the issuance of warnings for potential cold days across the state.”

On Sunday, cold day-like conditions were most pronounced across western and central Bihar. Dense fog was likely to blanket isolated pockets of the southwestern districts, further aggravating the situation. The impact was most severe in Gaya, where visibility dropped to just 50 metres, leading to major disruptions in road and rail traffic.

Weather officials said the focus of the cold spell was expected to shift slightly on Monday, with Gaya, Nalanda, Arwal and Jehanabad likely to experience the brunt of cold day conditions. At the same time, dense fog was forecast to move towards the northwestern districts, particularly affecting Sitamarhi and Sheohar.

By Tuesday, the intensity of fog is expected to become more localised, with dense pockets forming in parts of northern and southwestern Bihar. However, light to moderate fog is likely to persist across most districts, including Purnea and Katihar. IMD said there would be no significant change in minimum and maximum temperatures across the state over the next few days.

The administration has advised residents and commuters to exercise extreme caution, especially during early morning hours when visibility remains poor. Motorists have been urged to use low-beam headlights and maintain safe distances, as high humidity can create deceptive driving conditions on highways.

Meanwhile, the Patna district administration has intensified relief measures to protect people from the biting cold. Public bonfires have been set up at 199 identified locations across the district, including Patna Sadar, Phulwarisharif and Danapur. These have been placed at busy locations such as Patna Junction, PMCH, Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Saguna More, Khagaul Station and the Secretariat to provide immediate relief to commuters and outdoor workers.

In addition, the Patna Municipal Corporation has made operational 26 permanent and temporary night shelters to accommodate the homeless and vulnerable. Shelters have been arranged at locations including New Secretariat Gate No. 3, Sheikhpura More, Hartali More and the local fish market. Official records show that 7,854 people have used these facilities so far with 590 taking shelter on Sunday alone.

District administrations across Bihar remain on high alert, and residents have been advised to strictly follow the “dos and don’ts” issued by the disaster management department to reduce health risks during the ongoing cold spell.

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