Cold Wave Grips North India

January 3, 2026

Abhishek Vij

The new year began in the northern states with biting cold and scattered light rain. The rain was short-lived, but the cold intensified after the rainfall. Meteorologists say that the cold wave will continue to wreak havoc. There is no possibility of respite from the fog. This time, frost and dry cold are showing their full force. Clearly, this is affecting the newly sown crops. Farmers are worried.
The weather is such that there is no difference between the weather in the hills and the plains at this time. Weather observers say that 9 districts of Punjab, including Amritsar, are currently colder than Shimla. All government and private schools in Punjab have been closed until January 7th.

Currently, 9 districts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ludhiana, and Patiala, are colder than Shimla, Dharamshala, Kangra, and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. This is the first time this season that the maximum temperature in so many districts simultaneously has been below 14 degrees Celsius. On New Year’s Eve, there was snowfall in Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh and in the Kashmir Valley. Himachal received up to half a foot of snowfall. The snowfall started on Wednesday evening. Rohtang Pass and the Shinku La area had to be closed to tourists. There was a huge crowd of tourists in the mountains to celebrate the new year, and tourists going to Rohtang were greeted by snowdrifts midway at Marhi.

Intermittent snowfall continued in the high mountainous regions of Kashmir. After this snowfall, the snow glaciers are the source of water, but due to environmental pollution and the ill effects of global warming, these glaciers have started melting prematurely. The natural flow of rivers is turning into devastating floods. At this time, the severe cold is adversely affecting normal life. The deteriorating weather has resulted in train cancellations and disruptions to air travel. 148 flights have been canceled, and passengers are facing the same difficulties they experienced earlier due to the cancellation of IndiGo flights. People appear frustrated by the uncertainty of transportation.

Clearly, the anger and frustration of air travelers are being expressed at the airports. Weather experts are predicting dense fog in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi until January 5th and in Rajasthan until January 3rd. Passengers are advised not to drive or travel unnecessarily during this weather. Many accidents and tragic deaths have been reported these days due to the dense fog. The reason is not only the dense fog but also the disregard for traffic rules by drivers and the reckless speeding of large vehicles. The minimum temperature in Amritsar was 6.1 degrees Celsius, and in Ludhiana, it was recorded at 6.8 degrees Celsius. In Ambala, Haryana, the minimum temperature is 9.6 degrees Celsius. It is strange that the minimum temperature is three degrees higher than the normal temperature for this season, yet the cold is severe.

The same situation is being observed in the mountains and in Rajasthan. The maximum temperature has dropped rapidly, but the minimum temperature is slightly higher than normal. These unusual weather patterns are undoubtedly due to environmental pollution and global warming, but it seems that the government has only announced its intention to combat this misfortune. No meaningful steps are being taken because developed countries are refusing to participate in the fight against environmental pollution, and developing countries of the third world do not have the capacity to fight environmental pollution on their own.This fight can also be waged by bringing about a change in people’s mindset. By not burning stubble and by not using vehicles that cause excessive pollution. Nowhere do citizens appear to be coming forward with commitment to combat pollution. That’s why nowadays every season goes to its extreme. But it’s the common man who suffers the most from this weather uncertainty. Therefore, the sooner we can find these missing seasons and bring them back, the better.