National Times Bureau :- With cold-wave conditions tightening their grip across Punjab, the Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert, warning of dense fog from December 12 to 14. The drop in wind speed to around 5–7 km/h during the night has intensified the chill, further setting the stage for reduced visibility in several districts.
Faridkot recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 4.5°C, making it the coldest location in the state. Night temperatures in other districts also remained significantly low, with Bathinda at 5.2°C, Hoshiarpur at 5.3°C, Gurdaspur at 6.0°C, Pathankot at 6.5°C, SBS Nagar at 7.0°C, Ropar at 7.6°C, Amritsar at 7.7°C, Ludhiana at 8.2°C, and Chandigarh at 8.7°C. Daytime temperatures across most regions hovered between 24°C and 25°C.
According to the Chandigarh Meteorological Centre, dense fog is likely to blanket multiple districts over the next three days, with visibility expected to drop below 50 metres in several areas. This sudden dip in visibility is poised to trigger difficulties for vehicle drivers, potentially affecting road safety and slowing down traffic movement during early morning and late-night hours.
Authorities have urged commuters to exercise caution, avoid speeding, and use fog lights to prevent accidents as the state prepares for another spell of harsh winter conditions.
