Two elderly individuals in Madhya Pradesh lost their lives due to the extreme cold weather gripping the state. Both, suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, succumbed to brain hemorrhages on Thursday night in Datia. They were admitted to the district hospital for treatment, but their conditions worsened due to the cold, confirmed Dr. DS Tomar, the RMO.
The cold wave has tightened its grip on the state, with dense fog covering several districts, including Bhopal and Indore, on Friday. Cold winds intensified the chill, leading to a significant drop in temperatures. Eighteen districts experienced a cold day, with Raisen being the coldest, recording a maximum temperature of 18.8 degrees Celsius. Other major cities recorded day temperatures of 19 degrees Celsius in Bhopal, 21.2 in Indore, 20.3 in Gwalior, 20.5 in Ujjain, and 20.8 in Jabalpur.
The Meteorological Department predicts that fog will persist in the Gwalior-Chambal region over the next two days, while cloudy conditions are expected in Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain. The cold wave is likely to intensify further from January 19 to 20. A “cold day” is classified by the department as one where the minimum temperature drops to 10 degrees Celsius or below, and the maximum temperature falls by 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius below normal.
In a tragic incident related to the severe cold, a couple in Singrauli district attempted to stay warm by burning coal in their room, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning. Laxman Prasad Kushwaha was found dead, while his wife Maya remains in critical condition. Their son discovered them unconscious on Friday morning after breaking open the door.
The severe weather also disrupted air travel, with an Air India Express flight from Kolkata to Indore delayed by 18 hours. The flight, initially scheduled to arrive on Thursday night, was diverted to Ahmedabad due to fog and eventually canceled, leading to protests from passengers at Ahmedabad Airport.
In Gwalior, dense fog contributed to a road accident that claimed the life of 25-year-old farmer Satyabhan Singh Gurjar.
He suffered fatal head injuries after being hit by a Bolero vehicle while riding his bike. In another accident in Ghuraiya market near Baretha toll, a Swift car lost control in heavy fog, collided with a divider, and caught fire. Four youths in the car were rescued by police officers on the scene.
The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of shallow to moderate fog and cold days in several districts, including Bhopal, Rajgarh, and dense fog in Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, and other regions. Residents are advised to exercise caution as the cold wave continues to impact daily life and travel across the state.