The impact of a western disturbance has intensified cold conditions across Jharkhand, with several regions witnessing temperatures far below normal. In a rare occurrence, the mercury dropped below zero in McCluskieganj, near Ranchi, making it one of the coldest places in the state.
On Wednesday, Nelson Paul Bobby Gordon, a resident of Lapra village in McCluskieganj belonging to the Anglo-Indian community, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius using his temperature measuring device.
Meanwhile, at a residential cottage for tourists in Jobhiya, a digital meter registered an even lower minimum temperature of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius. The severe cold led to the freezing of dew droplets during the early morning hours, resulting in a frost-like white layer on grass, leaves, and vehicles.
In Ranchi district, the Kanke area recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, while Khunti registered 2.1 degrees Celsius. Ranchi city recorded a minimum temperature of 6.6 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 19.4 degrees Celsius.
The extreme cold has also turned fatal.
A 50-year-old woman, Rekha Devi, was found dead on Old HB Road in Ranchi. She was a resident of the Chandni Chowk area under Kanke Road. Police have sent the body to RIMS for a post-mortem examination. Preliminary investigation suggests that she died due to exposure to extreme cold.
Dense fog, along with the cold wave, has further disrupted daily life. Visibility in Daltonganj dropped to just 300 metres, while Deoghar recorded visibility of 600 metres.
Over the past 24 hours, the weather remained dry across the state, though light to moderate fog prevailed in several areas. Chaibasa recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 24.8 degrees Celsius.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Ranchi, cold wave conditions are expected to persist on January 8 across southern Jharkhand, north-western districts, and central parts of the state.
A yellow alert has been issued for East and West Singhbhum, Simdega, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Latehar, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Khunti, Hazaribagh, Gumla, and Bokaro.
Meteorologist Abhishek Anand stated that no major change in minimum temperatures is likely on January 8 and 9. However, a gradual rise of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in minimum temperatures is expected between January 10 and 12.
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