Intense cold, dense fog hit life in Rajasthan

Intense cold wave conditions continued to affect normal life in the desert state of Rajasthan, with the accompanying fog hitting train services.

The state capital Jaipur woke up to dense fog and vehicles plying on roads early in the morning were forced to switch on their fog lamps and crawl. The fog cleared only after 10 a.m. The Met Office recorded a minimum temperature of 5.7 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees below the normal.

At least 17 trains were running behind schedule while four trains were cancelled.

Mount Abu, the only hill station in the state, was freezing at minus 0.6 degree Celsius, five notches below normal. Pilani, Bikaner and Alwar were also cold at 1.9 degrees, 3.1 degrees and 3.9 degrees Celsius respectively.

"Temperatures are likely to drop in the next 24 hours. Dense fog is likely to occur at a few places in north Rajasthan," a Meteorological Department official said.

The district administration in Jaipur with the help of charitable institutes and NGOs has erected makeshift tents for the homeless, where food and blankets are being provided free.