Latest North India News | Top North India News Headlines Today | Today India news | Breaking North India News Today | English North India News Headlines - TheDailyGuardian

North India sizzles under severe heatwave

June 13, 2025, 2:36 am

Intense heatwave has gripped the north India, with temperature soaring well above 45°C in many regions, prompting the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana The scorching heat, compounded by dry “loo” winds and unusually warm nights, has disrupted daily life, strained infrastructure and raised alarms over pub- lic health and agriculture in water-stressed areas. Sweltering heatwave conditions continue to tighten their grip over Delhi and Rajasthan.

The IMD has warned of persistently high temperatures across North- west India. According to the latest IMD updates, maximum temperatures in Delhi are hovering between 40°C and 44°C. With a yellow alert in effect, the IMD forecasts a further rise of 4-5°C in the coming days, potentially pushing temperatures by June 13-14. Conditions are even more extreme in Rajasthan, where several parts of West Rajasthan reporting high temperature.

The IMD report suggest blistering temperatures across several districts in northern states with Punjab’s Bathinda sizzling at 47.6°C, while Ludhiana touched 46°C. In Haryana, Sirsa recorded 46.5°C. Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, sweltered at 43°C, with the IMD warning of a further rise to 44–46°C in the coming days across southern and western pockets of both states. “Hot and dry loo winds are sweeping across Punjab and Haryana, and we do not expect any significant relief before June 15,” said Surinder Paul, Director of IMD Chandigarh.

The absence of rainfall and persistent north- westerly winds are fueling the extreme heat, he added. The intense heatwave has upended daily routines. In Chandigarh, authorities have urged residents to avoid going outdoors between noon and 3 PM. Several schools across the region have closed early or shifted to online classes to protect children from the sun. Farmers are among the hardest hit.

The heatwave has worsened existing water scarcity, posing a major challenge to crop health. With the paddy transplantation in both the leading rice producing states –was underway and the longer dry spell has hit the farmers hard as they rely on the ground water and spending on the diesel to pump out ground water amid deepening concerns about groundwater depletion.

Meanwhile, power demand has skyrocketed. Chandigarh reported record-high electricity consumption due to widespread use of cooling systems. Also in in Haryana, cities like Hisar, Rohtak, and Sirsa faced power outages as supply struggled to meet the surge in demand. Hospitals have reported an uptick in cases of heatstroke and dehydration. Health departments in cities like Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Faridabad are on high alert.

The IMD forecast indicates that the heatwave will persist in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Delhi, and parts of Uttar Pradesh until at least June 15. Some areas could see temperatures spike up to 48°C. Meanwhile, however, scattered rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds may bring marginal relief on June 15–16. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves to climate change. According to global research group Climate Central, human induced global warming has significantly raised the likelihood of such extreme weather events.

North India under severe cold wave, Holidays extended in several states

January 16, 2025, 9:44 pm

A severe cold wave is gripping North India, bringing dense fog, heavy rains, and freezing temperatures, making life particularly difficult for residents, especially students and commuters. As the cold wave intensifies, schools across many parts of the region have been forced to extend winter holidays, while others have opted for online classes to ensure students stay safe from the extreme weather conditions. In the national capital, Delhi, temperatures dropped to 9.8 degrees Celsius at 5:30 AM today, accompanied by poor air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 252, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

This chilly weather, caused by the influx of frigid air from the Himalayas, has spread to several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir. These areas are experiencing significantly lower temperatures than usual, leading to a drop in normal temperature ranges. In Haryana, schools had initially planned winter vacations from January 1 to January 15, 2025. However, due to the cold wave, districts like Ambala and Kurukshetra have extended the school closures until January 16 and 17.

Similarly, in Delhi NCR, schools have been directed to continue offering hybrid classes for students in classes 9 and 11. In Ghaziabad, schools from grades 1 to 8 will remain shut until January 18, while in Noida, nursery to Class 8 schools are closed until further notice. In Lucknow, the district magistrate, Surya Pal Gangwar, has extended the winter holidays for schools up to Class 8 until January 16, with schools set to reopen on January 17. The cold wave has also led to disruptions in transportation. On Thursday, 29 trains and flights were delayed in Delhi NCR due to heavy fog and moderate rain, and visibility problems are expected to persist into Friday morning. With temperatures forecasted to range between 10 to 17 degrees Celsius, the weather conditions are likely to keep intensifying the chill across the region.

Authorities are continuously monitoring the weather and making adjustments to schedules to ensure safety for students and residents. Several states across North India are taking similar steps to extend school breaks as a precaution against the extreme cold. Meanwhile, in the southern states, schools have also extended holidays to coincide with ongoing harvest season festivities.

CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP Revokes Stage-IV in Entire NCR

The Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the NCR and Adjoining Areas has decided to revoke Stage-IV of the extant GRAP schedule across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect. The decision comes following favorable meteorological conditions and rainfall in the region since January 15, which has led to an improvement in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI).

Additionally, if AQI breaches 400 on any given day, Stage-IV measures must be reintroduced. On January 15 Delhi’s AQI recorded 386, indicating a sharp rising trend, prompting the Sub-Committee to invoke both Stage-III and Stage-IV. However, due to the current meteorological factors and rainfall, the air quality in Delhi has significantly improved, with the AQI recorded at 302 on January 16—a level still within the ‘Very Poor’ category, but well below the threshold to trigger Stage-IV. After reviewing the situation today, the Sub-Committee has decided to revoke Stage-IV, with only actions under Stages III, II, and I remaining in effect.

Severe Cold Wave Hits North India, Snowfall Disappoints Tourists in Srinagar and Shimla

December 26, 2024, 8:07 am

North India is experiencing a severe cold wave, with temperatures plummeting in regions like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. On Wednesday, many northern states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, remained under the grip of intense cold. However, popular tourist destinations like Srinagar and Shimla missed out on a “white Christmas.”

In Srinagar, a boatman navigated the frozen surface of Dal Lake on December 25, as the city recorded a low of -7.3°C. Tabo in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest in the state, with temperatures dipping to -10.6°C. In Himachal Pradesh, 134 roads, including three national highways, were closed due to snowfall in several districts.

Cold Wave Highlights:

Delhi: The national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 22.4°C on Christmas Day, two degrees above average. The minimum temperature was 8.4°C, 1.5 degrees below normal.
Kashmir: The Kashmir Valley continued to experience severe cold, with several water bodies and water supply lines freezing. The MeT department forecasts a further dip in temperatures over the next two days. Despite the harsh conditions, tourists in Srinagar were disappointed by the lack of snowfall, as the city has yet to receive snow this season.
Himachal Pradesh: Snowfall led to the closure of 134 roads, including three national highways. Minimum temperatures dropped further in places like Jot, which received 10 cm of snow. Power outages were reported across the state, affecting 173 transformers. However, Shimla, despite hopes for a white Christmas, was greeted by sunshine, with no snow recorded. The MeT office predicts rain and snow in some parts of the state from Friday to Sunday, with Saturday seeing the heaviest precipitation.
Rajasthan: Dense fog persisted across many parts of Rajasthan, and light rain occurred in some areas of eastern Rajasthan. Some western Rajasthan areas recorded a “cold day.”
Punjab: Faridkot recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 4.2°C, while Amritsar saw a low of 5.4°C and Gurdaspur 5.5°C.
Haryana: Narnaul was the coldest in the state with a minimum of 5.2°C, while Hisar recorded 6.8°C, and Gurugram 9.3°C.
Chandigarh: The capital recorded a minimum temperature of 7.4°C.
Uttar Pradesh: The weather cleared up in Uttar Pradesh after two days of rain caused by western disturbances. Light drizzle had intensified the cold conditions. Lucknow recorded 0.5 mm of rainfall, which led to a drop of 1.5°C in temperatures. The IMD predicts clear weather on Thursday, with rain expected to resume on December 27.

How This Woman’s Pani Puri Order Offended Her ‘North Indian’ Roots?

December 18, 2024, 6:20 pm

India has diverse cultures and flavors within it. Each region in India gives unique flavors of its cuisine. From spicy chole bhature in North India to delectable dosas in South India, the list is endless. One such delight is dahi puri-a street food, crispy puris, filled with yogurt, spiced mashed potatoes, boiled chickpeas, chutneys, and spices-very hard to resist. This particular meal has seen the spotlight from a peculiar reason following the widespread viral posting that entertained most users.

A woman took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her disappointment with a dahi puri order she received in Bengaluru, describing it as far from the classic version. She shared a photo showing dahi and puris packed separately, with no sign of the usual spices, chutneys, or toppings. Her post read, “101 reasons to leave Bangalore … ordered dahi puri literally got ‘dahi’ & ‘puri.’ North Indian in me is so offended.”

101 reasons to leave Bangalore … ordered dahi puri literally got “dahi” & “puri” north indian in me is so offended :’))) pic.twitter.com/Ya3kZFQksR

— Aashika ? (@snorlaxNotFound) December 16, 2024

Also Read: Woman Dressed Up As Kali Mata Sparks Mixed Reactions Online

How Social Media Reacted?

Soon the post got viral and then several reactions appeared. One comment that came is, “You were under the ‘dahi-lusion’ that Bangalore would serve you the chaat of your dreams.”

You were under the “dahi-lusion” that Bangalore would serve you the chaat of your dreams.

— Jitendar Singh (@jitendarsinghk) December 17, 2024

Another comments on is, “This is criminal.”

this is criminal https://t.co/vOfmHJxEie

— inspector gbxë ?? (@gurubhaisauce) December 17, 2024

But not everyone found sympathy in others. Some would defend the kind of packing, saying this is meant to avoid moist puris. One user quipped that, “What you expect – a ‘soggy puri’? It’s obvious the dahi is gonna be separate. If you want dahi in your puri, then go to the place and have it.

what you expect a “soggy puri”? it’s obvious the dahi is gonna be separate. ??? if you want dahi in your puri then go to the place and have it ezpz

— Akhin (@kysakhin) December 17, 2024

She explained in the answers that her problem wasn’t just the separate packaging but also the absence of the other essentials that complement the meal. Her experience has spawned a light-hearted but animated debate about the authenticity and expectations of iconic dishes from different regions.

Karnataka To Replace NEET With State Specific Medical Entrance Exam

July 23, 2024, 10:05 am

In a significant development, the Karnataka government is set to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) following a series of controversies, including a major paper leak incident. On Monday, the state cabinet approved a proposal to scrap NEET and introduce a state-specific medical entrance exam. This decision is poised to be formalized with a resolution in both houses of the state legislature during the ongoing session.

The move aligns Karnataka with Tamil Nadu’s recent decision to eliminate NEET, reverting to a system based on Class 12 marks for medical admissions. Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar criticized NEET for allegedly favoring students from North India at the expense of local candidates. He emphasized, “The NEET exam must be scrapped immediately. The union government should permit states to conduct their own entrance exams. Despite having built numerous medical colleges, NEET benefits students from North India, depriving our own students of opportunities. We must unite in this fight.”

This shift follows Tamil Nadu’s legislative action in June, where Chief Minister MK Stalin highlighted the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students in preparing for NEET. Tamil Nadu’s resolution argued that NEET undermines the opportunities for rural students and infringes on states’ rights to manage medical college admissions independently.

In addition to the NEET proposal, the Karnataka cabinet has also put forward plans for the establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). This new body will assume financial control over Bengaluru, replacing the current Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The restructuring of Bengaluru’s governance has been a long-standing issue.

Furthermore, a resolution opposing the ‘one nation, one election’ initiative is also expected to be presented in the assembly. These critical resolutions are anticipated to be debated and potentially passed on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The proposed changes reflect a broader trend of states seeking more autonomy over educational and administrative matters, highlighting ongoing debates over federal and state authority in India.

North India feels the chill, as fog disrupts flight services, delays 18 Delhi-bound trains

January 18, 2024, 12:42 pm

The temperature in several states was in the single digits, and commuters had to deal with thick fog and poor visibility in the early hours of Thursday due to the extreme cold that persisted throughout North India. “Very dense fog” was reported in a few areas of Punjab, Haryana, West Rajasthan, and Bihar at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, according to an official statement from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Similar heavy fog was also reported in isolated parts of Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Assam while moderate fog was observed in isolated parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, according to IMD.
The Met agency informed further that shallow fog was also experienced in isolated parts of eastern Rajasthan, eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Madhya Pradesh.
The IMD also forecast dense to very dense fog for a few hours late night and morning over many parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh between January 18 (Thursday) and 20 and in isolated parts on January 21 and 22.

Furthermore, the IMD predicts that over the course of the next 24 hours, a rise in minimum temperatures of roughly 2 degrees Celsius is very likely over Northwest India, but that there won’t be any further significant changes. Meanwhile, most of Bihar, East Uttar Pradesh, many West Uttar Pradesh, some Haryana, and isolated areas of Uttarakhand, West Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh, and Gangetic West Bengal experienced cold to extremely cold day conditions on Thursday, according to the national weather forecaster.

Schools in Prayagraj to remain closed till Jan 6 amid cold wave

January 4, 2024, 8:57 am

The district administration in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, declared on Wednesday that all board secondary schools would be closed through January 6 due to rain and the effects of a cold wave. The administration issued an order saying, “Teaching work will be suspended in the secondary schools of all the boards until January 6 in view of the outbreak of rain and cold waves in the district, keeping in mind the safety and health of the students, as per the order of the District Magistrate.” The principal, all teachers, and non-teaching staff were ordered by District School Inspector Prayagraj, P N Singh, to stay in the school during that time and complete official duties.

Meanwhile, the district administration in Lucknow also announced the closure of schools for students of Class 1 to Class 8 till January 6 on Tuesday given the cold wave in the state.
Bitter cold continues to grapple North India, sending shivers down spines and shrouding cities in dense fog. Residents huddle around bonfires for warmth, their breath puffing into the frosty air as temperatures plummet to bone-chilling levels.

IMD predicts rains in numerous North Indian states for next 3-4 hours

May 29, 2023, 10:11 am

On Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that some areas of Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands would get mild to moderate rain in the ensuing 3–4 hours. IMD further indicated that Monday’s higher elevations of Uttarakhand might experience rain and hail.”Latest satellite imagery shows the possibility of light to moderate spells of rain accompanied with thunderstorms/lightning/gusty winds activity over some parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Andaman and Nicobar Islands during next 3-4 hours,” the IMD said on Monday. IMD issued on Monday an orange alert for Uttarakhand where it is predicted the possibility of rain and hailstorm in higher reaches of the state and rain and thunder in the plains of it.
“There is a possibility of rain and hailstorm in the higher reaches of Uttarakhand today. Chance of rain and thunder in the plains,” IMD said.
According to the Meteorological Department, rain is expected in Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag and light rain in Bageshwar, Almora and Pithoragarh. The Meteorological Department has also issued a warning of gusty winds blowing at a speed of 70 km.
Meanwhile, Rain lashed parts of the national capital in the wee hours of Monday morning bringing relief from the heat.On Sunday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted dust storms and rain for areas of Delhi-NCR.
IMD said there is a chance of thunderstorms in Delhi for the next three to four days and issued an orange signal for Haryana, North-East Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.

Severe cold wave grip parts of North India; Schools closed in Udaipur, Bikaner, UP

January 16, 2023, 1:09 pm

The weather department Cold on Sunday said that wave to severe cold wave are very likely to hold their sway over parts of North India including Delhi till Wednesday.

Earlier on Monday, Lodhi Road and Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 1.6 degrees and 1.4 degrees Celsius, and in many parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi, there will be a cold wave to severe cold wave conditions.

Meanwhile, temperatures in many parts of Northwest and Central India will fall by two degrees Celsius until the 17 January, then rise by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius on the 18 January.

In view of the severe cold, Additional District Collector of Udaipur City, Prabha Gautam, declared a holiday for all students up to Class 8 from 16 to 18 January on Sunday. The district administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur has also closed the schools until Tuesday.

Moreover, in view of the severe cold and fog spell in the region, the Union Territory of Chandigarh has also extended the winter break.

However, on Saturday, IMD has predicted dense to very dense fog over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar during the next five days, and due to northwesterly winds from the Himalayas, the temperature will fall by 2-4 degrees Celsius.

5 killed including 1 child in Noida

January 11, 2023, 12:07 pm

A severe cold killed five people including one child in Noida. People are in bad conditions due to severe cold in North India including NCR. Earlier on Tuesday five people were brought dead to Noida’s district hospital.

Dense fog hits Delhi; 40 domestic flights, 36 trains delayed

January 10, 2023, 11:43 am

Amid the ongoing severe cold wave conditions, a thick layer of fog engulfed Delhi and adjoining areas leading to reduced visibility on Tuesday with less than 100 m visibility at 8.30 am.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), “Less than 100 m visibility at 8.30 am in Jammu division’s Jammu, U’khand’s Pantnagar, Punjab’s Patiala, Amritsar and Ludhiana, Haryana’s Bhiwani and Karnal, Delhi’s Palam, Raj’s Ganganagar, UP’s Bareilly, Bahraich, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj & Bihar’s Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Purnea.”

Meanwhile, due to less visibility from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) 40 flights were delayed and till 7 am no flight diversions were reported.

People braved through a thick fog in the entire north Indian belt, and a minimum temperature of 6.4°C was reported in Safdarjung while Palam recorded a minimum temperature of 7.5°C, till 8:30 am and at 4:30 am the visibility at Palam was 0 meters.

Moreover, over parts of Punjab, Northwest Rajasthan, Jammu division, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Tripura a dense fog was observed.

Taking to Twitter IMD tweeted, “Dense/Very Dense Fog layer (in the white patch) extends from Punjab to Bihar across Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh at 0530 hours IST on 10.01.2023.”

“Visibility (in meters) recorded at 0530 hours IST of 10.01.2023: Bhatinda and Agra – 0 each. Jammu division, Ganganagar, Chandigarh, Ambala, Patiala, Bareilly, Lucknow, Sultanpur, Gorakhpur, and Bhagalpur – 25 each. Hissar, Delhi-Palam, Baharaich, Gaya, Purnea and Kailashahar – 50,” IMD said.

However, 36 trains were running late due to fog on Tuesday.

A passenger said, “I am traveling to Gorakhpur. However, my train is running late by 4-4.5 hours on account of the fog.”

Furthermore, till 12 January a temporary ban has been imposed on Monday by the AAP government on the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers.

Massive flight disruptions due to dense fog

December 28, 2022, 12:25 pm

Due to dense fog, almost 100 flights have been disrupted in Delhi on Wednesday. “Due to bad weather (fog) for three days, over 100 flights are reported delayed from and to Delhi airport, some have also been diverted to the nearest airport,” a Delhi airport official said. Amid a busy year-end holiday season, the congestion at the airport in New Delhi was being tackled. In most parts of North India, there is dense fog due to which problems of air travelers increased. Over the past few days, poor visibility is affecting the northern parts of the country.

Over northeastern states, Cyclone Sitrang diminishes into depression

October 25, 2022, 12:47 pm

The remnant of the cyclonic storm “Sitrang,” which caused a deep depression over Bangladesh, has further weakened into a depression over northeast Bangladesh, north-northeast of Agartala, and south-southwest of Shillong, stated the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday.

“Deep Depression over Bangladesh (Remnant of Cyclonic Storm “SITRANG”) further weakened into a Depression and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of over northeast Bangladesh and neighbourhood about 90 km north-northeast of Agartala, and 100 km south-southwest of Shillong,” tweeted the IMD.

Earlier on Tuesday, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura were placed under a red alert for Monday’s heavy to very heavy and extremely high rainfall due to Cyclone Sitrang.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted widespread rainfall throughout Tripura for Monday and Tuesday, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very severe to extremely heavy rain in a few isolated locations.

“Under Sitrang influence, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning/heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on October 24th and 25th, 2022,” IMD said in a press release.

The West Bengal administration was seen taking all necessary precautions, including the evacuation of residents and the provision of relief supplies to shelters, to prepare for potential destruction brought on by Cyclone “Sitrang.”

In South 24 Parganas, civil defence teams have been stationed at Bakkhali Sea Beach. The beach is off limits to visitors, and the stores are closed as well.

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, urged the people to “remain awake” on Monday since there is a high probability of rain on Tuesday as a result of cyclone Sitrang.

“There is a high chance of rain on October 25. There is an appeal to the people to avoid going out unnecessarily or to the sea areas including the Sundarbans. The state govt has made arrangements,” said CM Mamata Banerjee.

IMD reported that from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Monday, the cyclonic storm “Sitrang,” which is pronounced “Si-Trang,” which was over the northwest and adjacent to the central Bay of Bengal and had a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, crossed the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona and Sandwip close to Barisal.

“It was centred at 11:30 pm on Sunday over coastal Bangladesh near latitude 23.70N and longitude 90.80E, about 40 km east of Dhaka, 50 km west-southwest of Agartala, and 120 km north-northeast of Barisal (Bangladesh),” IMD officials said.
“The cyclone is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken into a depression during the next 6 hours and further into a well-marked low-pressure area during the subsequent 6 hours,” it further said.