Severe cold and dense fog disrupts transport services in MP:Temperatures fall below three degrees; visibility drops sharply across many districts

Madhya Pradesh is currently witnessing intense cold conditions accompanied by dense fog, severely disrupting transport services and daily life across the state. Over 20 trains passing through Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior and Jabalpur are running late by 30 minutes to as much as five hours every day. Flight operations from Bhopal and Indore have also been affected. Visibility in Rewa has dropped to barely 50 metres in morning, making movement extremely difficult. On Sunday, fog continued to prevail in 18 cities, including Gwalior. Record low temperatures recorded On Saturday, Kalyanpur in Shahdol district recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest recorded in the state this season and the first time temperatures have fallen below 3 degrees. Umaria recorded 4.3 degrees, while Amarkantak in Anuppur stood at 4.6 degrees Celsius. Among major cities, Indore was the coldest at 5.6 degrees, followed by Bhopal at 6.2 degrees, Gwalior at 7.5 degrees, Jabalpur at 7.4 degrees and Ujjain at 8.5 degrees Celsius. Fog affects 18 districts According to the Meteorological Department, dense fog was reported on Sunday morning in Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, Singrauli, Maihar, Shahdol, Umaria and Katni. Moderate fog was observed in Bhopal, Shajapur, Dewas, Sehore, Raisen and Vidisha, where visibility ranged between 2 and 4 kilometres. Train and flight services hit Trains arriving from Delhi and northern states are the most affected, as foggy conditions prevail across North India. Services connecting Delhi to Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior and Ujjain are frequently delayed. Trains such as the Malwa Express, Jhelum Express, Shatabdi, Sachkhand Express and Punjab Mail are running up to eight hours behind schedule. The Malwa Express, scheduled to reach Bhopal at 7:25 am, arrived at 1:30 pm on Saturday. Consequently, it reached Ujjain at 5 pm and Indore at 7 pm, instead of its scheduled arrival at 1:35 pm. Fog advisory issued Due to persistent fog, the Meteorological Department has issued advisories related to travel, health and agriculture, with special emphasis on road safety. People have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and use fog lamps and beam headlights if driving is unavoidable. Maintaining low speed has also been recommended. Health and agricultural advisory Residents have been advised to cover the head, neck, fingers and toes properly to retain body heat. Those suffering from flu, cold or cough are advised to consult a doctor and consume fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C. Exposure to fog particles and pollutants may reduce lung function, causing coughing and breathing difficulties. Wearing masks during exercise has been advised. Farmers have been warned to protect crops from excess moisture and disease caused by prolonged fog. Proper ventilation in animal shelters has also been recommended. Special care is advised for tomato, chilli, cauliflower and mustard crops. Jet Stream intensifying cold The jet stream is currently active over North India and is flowing at a speed of 194 km per hour at an altitude of 12.6 kilometres. Weather experts explain that this high-speed wind, combined with icy winds from the mountains and cold air from northern plains, is intensifying the cold across the state. The phenomenon is linked to active Western Disturbances. Winter breaking records Winter has broken records in both November and December this year. Bhopal experienced a cold wave for 15 consecutive days in November, the longest since 1931. On November 17, the city recorded 5.2 degrees, a record. December continues the trend, with temperatures dropping below 5 degrees in several regions. Most affected regions Severe cold is being felt across Gwalior, Chambal and Ujjain divisions, along with Sagar and Rewa divisions. Parts of Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur divisions are also experiencing intense cold, with icy winds and dense fog worsening conditions.