The unrelenting cold wave battering Bihar reached a new low in Gaya, where temperatures nosedived to 4.1 degrees Celsius early today. Families huddled together for warmth as the state experiences its most intense chill in years.
Dense fog has crippled logistics, with over 50 trains running late and national highways resembling parking lots. The district administration declared a fog emergency, deploying traffic marshals around the clock.
Relief operations are in full swing: state disaster teams air-dropped essentials to remote villages, while urban areas see free medical camps targeting hypothermia cases. Children and seniors bear the brunt, with hospitals reporting a 30% uptick in admissions.
IMD data reveals a 5-degree drop from normal November averages, fueled by cold northern winds. Relief is unlikely before weekend, they say. This comes atop recent floods, compounding woes for Bihar’s 12 crore populace.
On a broader note, such events challenge India’s disaster preparedness. Calls grow for climate-resilient policies, from insulated housing to subsidized heating. As thermometers stay glued to single digits, Bihar’s resilience is tested once more in the face of nature’s fury.