The Meteorological Department has issued a dense fog warning for several districts of Madhya Pradesh, including Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, and Maihar. Shallow to moderate fog is also expected in Mandsaur and Neemuch districts. The reduced visibility has already led to a tragic accident in Bhind, where a tractor collided with a tree, claiming one life.
The accident occurred in Umri, Bhind, when Rinku Yadav, a resident of Chhaikur Ka Pura village, lost control of his tractor due to dense fog. The vehicle collided with a tree at around 4 a.m. before falling into a ditch. Yadav died on the spot, highlighting the dangerous road conditions caused by poor visibility.
A Western Disturbance active in North India is pushing cold winds into Madhya Pradesh, resulting in a sharp drop in temperatures. The Meteorological Department predicts that the cold wave could persist for 20-22 days, forcing school closures in Gwalior and Morena and adjusted timings in Bhind to protect students from the severe cold.
Temperatures in many cities across the state dropped below 10 degrees Celsius over the weekend. Jabalpur recorded the lowest temperature among major cities at 8°C, followed by Gwalior at 9.2°C, Bhopal at 9.6°C, Indore at 12.8°C, and Ujjain at 11.5°C. Smaller towns and districts reported even colder conditions, with Nowgong recording 8°C and Mandla at 8.8°C.
Dense fog has significantly reduced visibility in several regions. On Monday morning, Rewa airport reported a minimum visibility of 50 meters, while Khajuraho airport recorded 100 meters. Gwalior airport experienced visibility of 200 meters, and other areas such as Satna, Damoh, and Sidhi saw visibility ranging from 50 to 1,000 meters. Mauganj district recorded a mere 20 meters of visibility, severely affecting transportation and daily activities.
The weather department forecasts light rain in some districts starting January 12 due to the continuing impact of the Western Disturbance. Meanwhile, snowfall in northern states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, is intensifying the cold wave across Madhya Pradesh.
The cold conditions and fog have brought life to a standstill in many parts of the state. Dense fog was reported in Bhind, Morena, Gwalior, Datia, Niwari, North Chhatarpur, Satna, Rewa, and Mauganj. Moderate fog conditions were observed in districts like Neemuch, Mandsaur, Agar, North Ratlam, Shivpuri, Ashoknagar, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Maihar, Katni, South Chhatarpur, Sidhi, and Singrauli.
The authorities have urged residents to exercise caution while traveling and to ensure adequate heating arrangements at home. Efforts are being made to mitigate the impact of the severe weather, but the situation underscores the challenges posed by dense fog and the ongoing cold wave.
