The thickest fog of the season descended on Madhya Pradesh on Monday morning, and cold weather reducing visibility to less than 20 meters in the state capital and forcing authorities to declare holidays in 18 districts.
Bhopal experienced its densest fog of the winter season, creating hazardous conditions for motorists who were forced to drive with headlights on during daylight hours. The entire state has been gripped by severe cold, fog, and cold wave conditions for the past three days.
Visibility Drops to Dangerous Levels
Dense fog blanketed more than 30 districts on Monday morning, with visibility dropping below 20 meters in several areas. In Dindouri and Vidisha, visibility fell to less than 10 meters, making road travel extremely dangerous.
Schools from nursery to class 8 were shut across 18 districts, giving relief to young children who would otherwise brave freezing temperatures during their morning commute. In Bhopal and Dhar, authorities changed school timings to start after 9:30 am instead of closing schools entirely.
However, the timing change brought little relief for many students. School buses and vans continued arriving at homes around 8 am to pick up children. “Even after increasing the timing of schools in Bhopal, children have to leave home two hours earlier to go to school,” according to local reports. Children made appeals to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to declare school holidays.
The fog affected daily life across the state. Trains from Delhi arrived late at multiple stations, and flights at Bhopal airport faced delays of up to one hour. Vehicle headlights became mandatory even during daytime hours as visibility dropped dramatically.
Multiple trains including Malwa, Sachkhand, and Shatabdi ran late from their scheduled times due to dense fog conditions on routes from Delhi. The disruption affected thousands of commuters across the state.
Record-Breaking Winter Continues
Temperature records tumbled across Madhya Pradesh. This winter has already broken records, with November marking the coldest in 84 years and December shattering a 25-year record. The Meteorological Department predicts severe cold will continue through January.
Damoh experienced a dramatic temperature drop, with the mercury falling five degrees in a single night from 11.8 degrees on Sunday evening to just 6.8 degrees on Monday morning. Rajgarh recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 5 degrees Celsius.
The cold has affected more than just daily routines. Dew drops froze on spider webs in Tikamgarh and Raisen. Farmers expressed concern about potential damage to gram crops due to continuously dropping temperatures, particularly in Dhar where temperatures fell to 6.5 degrees.
In Narmadapuram, farmers faced particularly harsh conditions. They were forced to sleep on trolleys full of paddy at procurement centers for four days, with no bonfires or sheds provided for protection from the cold. The minimum temperature there reached 11 degrees Celsius.
Cold wave alerts remained in effect for Rajgarh, Datia, Chhatarpur, and Umaria during the day. Dense fog warnings continue for January 6 and 7 in multiple districts including Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, and Satna.
Among major cities, Gwalior recorded the coldest temperature at 6.4 degrees Celsius. Indore, despite experiencing less fog on Monday than Sunday, continued to face bitter cold conditions.
Temperature and Forecast Data
| City | Minimum Temperature (°C) | Weather Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Rajgarh | 5.0 | Cold wave alert, dense fog |
| Datia | 5.1 | Cold wave alert |
| Alampur (Bhind) | 4.0 | Light fog, coldest night |
| Gwalior | 6.4 | Dense fog, dew formation |
| Pachmarhi | 6.4 | Severe cold |
| Damoh | 6.8 | Dense fog, visibility 30m |
| Shivpuri | 7.0 | Dense fog expected |
| Morena | 7.0 | Dense fog, train delays |
| Mandla | 5.8 | Fog, visibility reduced |
| Bhopal | 10.8 | Densest fog, visibility 20m |
| Indore | 11.8 | Less fog, bitter cold |
| Jabalpur | 11.0 | Dense fog |
The Meteorological Department advises residents to remain cautious as cold conditions are expected to persist for several more days.
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