IMD Advises Against Drinking Amid Severe Cold Wave in North India

Cold wave in Delhi-NCR.

(Photo: PTI)

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, North India is expected to go through a ‘severe’ cold wave and drinking alcohol or having New Year’s parties should be avoided, NDTV reported.

The IMD said in an impact-based advisory that the cold wave will effect the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and northern Rajasthan from 28 December and various illnesses like flu, running nose or nosebleed might get aggravated due to prolonged exposure to cold.

It said, “Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and north Rajasthan from 28-29 December. Ground frost and dense fog is likely in isolated pockets in the region.”

Further, the advisory also read, “Don't drink alcohol. It reduces your body temperature...Get indoors. Eat Vitamin-C-rich fruits and moisturise your skin regularly to counter the effects of severe cold.”

The head of the regional forecasting centre of the IMD, Kuldeep Srivastava informed that Sunday and Monday will likely be slightly warmer under the influence of a fresh western disturbance affecting the upper reaches of the Himalayas, however, the relief will be fleeting, NDTV reported.

The western disturbance will cause "scattered to fairly widespread" snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The Department also added that, after the western disturbance withdraws, cold and dry northerly or northwesterly winds from the western Himalayas will bring the minimum temperature in north India down by three to five degree Celsius.

(inputs from NDTV)