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Mercury dips dangerously in north India

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

The new millennium saw the people of Bihar huddle indoors as icy winds swept the Gangetic plains. More than 100 people lost their lives in the last 48 hours in the state and other parts of northern India. Nalanda district of central Bihar accounted for highest toll -- 16 deaths, followed by Vaishali district 14 and Saran district seven.

Over 500 hundred people have been taken ill all over the state. Chief Minister Rabri Devi has asked the district administrations all over the state to extend the winter vacation by another week. In Patna too the schools have been declared closed till January 14.

The cold wave has thrown normal life out of gear. Not a single plane touched down at or took off from Patna's Jaya Prakash Narayan International airport on New Year's day. In the days following there has been little improvement. On Sunday and Monday the few flights that took off were late by five to six hours. Similarly, almost all the trains passing through or originating from the state, including the Rajdhani Express to the national capital, are running late by seven to eight hours.

In the past, during January the mercury used to dip to as low as three to four degree Celsius in Gaya. However, this year Gaya recorded the lowest temperature in the state on January 1. The town, however, was slightly warmer on the following day. Ironically, during summer Gaya is considered as the hottest place in the country.

The minimum temperature at Patna was 9.3 and 9.5 degrees Celsius on January 1 and 2 respectively. Weathermen anticipate the cold wave to continue for another couple of days. The railways too have geared up to handle the fog. Alarmed by the accident of 3004 Down Mumbai- Howrah Mail (via Allahabad) on December 31, possibly due to fog, the railways have made special arrangement. The permanent way inspectors, signal inspectors and loco inspectors have been asked to do "foot-plating" in the night. Railway gangmen have been provided with fog signals and detonators and track patrolling has also been intensified.

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