Lucknow. Severe cold and severe fog continue to wreak havoc in UP. Here the mercury reached below 5 degrees for the first time in the season. Sultanpur was the coldest in the last 24 hours with a minimum temperature of 4.7 degrees Celsius. The mercury was recorded at 4.8 in Barabanki, 5 in Ayodhya, 5.1 degrees Celsius in Bareilly and 5.5 degrees Celsius in Shahjahanpur. There was dense fog in 28 districts on Sunday morning. Visibility reached zero at many places. There was no sunshine in most of the cities. The cold winds further increased the chill. Drops of dew fell like drizzle. There was silence on the streets at some places.
Let us tell you that on Saturday, 17 districts of the state recorded cold of more than 11.8 degrees Celsius in Shimla and 9 degrees Celsius in Nainital. In view of the cold wave in Jalaun, heaters were installed in the cow sheds. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a warning of severe cold and dense fog for the next 2 days for the entire Awadh region including Lucknow, Sitapur. Orange alert has been issued for most of the districts.
Due to fog, more than 70 trains are running late at all the railway stations including Lucknow, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Bareilly. Many flights are late at the airport. Due to cold, schools have been closed in 11 cities since last few days. Timings of schools have also been changed in 10 districts including Lucknow. The government is also on alert mode. People have been appealed not to leave their homes unnecessarily. The speed limit of vehicles on the highway has been increased from 60 to 80. Farmers say that fog is beneficial for wheat crop, but harmful for potatoes, pulses and peas.
