Cold Wave Freezes North India: Srinagar, Shimla Miss ‘White Christmas’ | Weather Updates

Cold Wave Freezes North India: North India continued to reel under severe cold wave conditions on Wednesday (December 26, 2024) However, tourists in favourite destinations such as Srinagar and Shimla remained deprived of witnessing a "white Christmas".

Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7.3°C, while Tabo in Himachal Pradesh was the coldest place, with temperatures dropping to minus 10.6°C. Minimum temperatures remained below zero across many parts of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh where intense cold conditions led to freezing water bodies and water supply lines in several regions.

However, tourists expressed disappointment at not experiencing snowfall in Srinagar on Christmas. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir has yet to see snowfall this season. "We felt good, we enjoyed a lot. There is no danger, people live together in brotherhood, and we celebrate Christmas," said Poonam, a tourist from Jammu. "It is colder. Kashmir used to have a white Christmas, and it was great, but this year, there has been no snowfall in Srinagar, and people are facing difficulties. We pray for a good snowfall," she added.

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The IMD predicts a further decrease of two to three degrees Celsius in the minimum temperature in Kashmir over the next two days.

North Indian states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and parts of Uttar Pradesh, remained gripped by a severe cold wave on Wednesday.

Heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh has resulted in the closure of 226 roads, including three national highways, according to officials.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), cold wave and fog conditions persisted, with the minimum temperature dropping to 8.4 degrees Celsius.

The IMD forecast moderate to dense fog in New Delhi today (December 26) and the temperature is expected to drop further. The maximum temperature may rise to around 23 degrees Celsius.

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Snowfall triggers road disruptions

However, the heavy snowfall has caused severe disruptions. Over 200 roads, including key national highways, have been closed due to the snow.

Popular tourist places such as Shimla, Kullu, and Manali have been particularly affected, with roads leading to these destinations blocked by snow.

In addition to road closures and traffic disruptions, power outages have been reported in some areas due to the snow. A total of 356 transformers have stopped functioning, further complicating the situation.

Rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and other states

Heavy rainfall is expected in isolated portions of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam. Thunderstorms with lightning are also possible in several areas of western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.

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