Cold Wave Sweeps Northern India:
Air, Rail Services Disrupted

(January , 2002)

          NEW DELHI: Dense fog has led to cancellation and rescheduling of flights and trains at several places in northern India. At Delhi airport visibility at runway dropped from 1000 metres to just 10 metres at times early mornings during Dec end-early Jan fortnight. The newly installed Instrumental Landing System was not of much help.

           Air India flights to and from Europe, UK and the US were skipping Delhi and originating from and terminating at Mumbai. Passengers from Delhi were being told to take a shuttle service to reach Mumbai to catch their flight to the West. However, travel clearance facilities were being offered at Delhi itself.

           Hundreds of trains were cancelled or rescheduled in Delhi and other northern towns. Road traffic too came to a virtual halt at several places. The cold wave which began sweeping the north by December end also continued to disrupt normal life in most places.

           In Delhi, the minimum temperature was 5 degrees C and the maximum 20 degrees C. In Chandigarh, the minimum was 3 degrees C - once in 1961 it had hit the bottom zero mark. High altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh like Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Rohtang Pass were cut off due to snowfall. Lakes in high reaches in the state where mercury dropped to minus 15 degrees C, the natural lakes froze. Tourists were stranded at many places.

           The toll in the cold spell rose to over 100 with the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar accounting for the maximum of deaths. Deaths were also reported from Punjab and Rajasthan. Chilly winds closed schools and establishments in several places in Bihar.

          In southern India, weather continued to be pleasant.                                                                                                      
                                                                                   
                                                                                                                       -India Overseas
                                                                                                                            JANUARY, 2002
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