Heightened cold wave with the dipping mercury virtually paralysed the normal life across the Bokaro district. Reeling under cold conditions Saturday was recorded as the coldest day by the Met department. It issued an alert and said the chill will continue in the coming days.
“Temperature has dipped to as low as two degrees Celsius in few parts of the Bokaro and Giridih districts while in the other parts its recorded low between 5-6 degrees Celsius. Today’s maximum temperature was recorded at 22 degrees Celsius”, added the official.
Dipping mercury with the bone-penetrating cold waves thrown life out of gear not only for the human beings but for the animals too.
The school going students and daily wage earners are finding the very hard time. The district administration has ordered change of timings of schools, and sought complete compliance with the directive.
Bokaro DC Rai Mahimapat Ray said that the schools have been asked to open at 9.00 am and wind up by 2.00 pm. A reassessment of the school timings would be done by the district administration based on the weather conditions prevailing in the coming days, he said.
Blankets were already distributed among the poor while bone fires are arranged at prominent nooks and corners across the district to beat the cold during nights, said Rai.
Though, in the lack of bonfire armaments on streets, people are compiled to collect garbage, plastics, poly bags and waste material in every nooks and corner to lit to prevent them from shivering cold and chattering teeth.
Meanwhile, foggy weather has affected railway and bus services too while attendance in offices has declined in many parts of the district. As fog engulfed most of the parts visibility reduced to even less than 20 metres especially in hilly terrains. “The cold wave is likely to continue for a few more days”, said a met official.
The ongoing cold waves may hits the vegetation and may harm to the standing rabi crop worth of lakhs if temperature goes below 4 degree Celsius and continues for more than 12 hours, said Anil Singh Scientist (Agriculture) of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Bokaro.
“Rabi crops, including mustard and its varieties, and leafy vegetables in several hectares of cultivable land may wilt in the pricing cold if such condition continues for more days”, he added.