The direct effect of western disturbance and snowfall in Northern India is visible on the weather of Rajasthan. The temperature has reached single digits in more than a dozen cities of the state and for the first time this season in Jaipur, the minimum temperature has been recorded below 10 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department says that the same cold wave will continue in the coming days, while a cold wave alert has been issued in Shekhawati region.
Due to continuously falling temperatures in many parts of the state, the nights have become more harsh. In many areas of Shekhawati, the night temperature has reached below two degrees Celsius, due to which life is being affected. The impact of increasing winter is also visible in agriculture as frost has started in many areas, due to which everything from vegetables to other Rabi crops is getting damaged. Farmers are resorting to traditional measures like irrigation and smoking to save crops, but the melting is so high that it is becoming difficult to get relief. Meteorologists said that due to low wind speed, the effect of cold is increasing rapidly at night and fog is persisting till late morning.
Sikar is the coldest area
In the last 24 hours, the coldest area of Rajasthan was Fatehpur in Sikar, where the minimum temperature was recorded at 1.9 degrees Celsius. Lunkaransar of Bikaner recorded 3.2 degrees Celsius, Sikar 3, Nagaur 3.1, Alwar 5.4, Dausa 4.6 and Jhunjhunu recorded 6.4 degrees Celsius. Cold has also gained momentum in the capital Jaipur and the minimum temperature was recorded at 9.2 degrees Celsius, which is below normal.
Melting has intensified at night in Churu, Sikar, Jhunjhunu including Nagaur, Bikaner and Ganganagar of Shekhawati. Even during the day, due to mild cold wind, people are finding it difficult to go out without warm clothes, while in the evening the number of people lighting bonfires on the roadside has increased. In markets, bus stands and rural areas, people are seen using wood and cow dung cakes to keep themselves warm.
The trend of falling temperature will continue
Meteorological Department Director Radheshyam Sharma said that the sky will remain clear in most parts of the state for the next one week and the trend of falling temperature will continue. According to him, the minimum temperature in Shekhawati region may remain between 3 to 5 degrees Celsius and the effect of cold wave will also be visible at some places. Sharma said that the coldness will increase further due to the wind direction being north-westerly.
Experts have advised people to be careful at night, give special protection to the elderly and children and be cautious due to smog while traveling in the morning. The Meteorological Department estimates that this sequence of bone-chilling cold will continue across the state for a few more days.
