Jamshedpur: The cold wave in northern India has brought temperature down in Jharkhand. Dry and crisp north-westerly winds are sweeping across the state brought temperature below the 10�C mark at several places, including Ranchi. The steel city today recorded a minimum temperature of 14. 6 degrees.
Weathermen at Meteorological Centre on Wednesday predicted a drop of at least three degrees in the next two days. Besides the capital and its neighbouring district- Khunti- places like Bokaro and its adjoining areas faced the jitters of sub-10 chill for the first time this winter.
The capital today recorded a minimum reading of 8.6�C, one point below the average normal. On Tuesday, it was cosier at 14.6�C, which means the temperature plunged by six degrees in just 24 hours. Kanke, considered the cold place of Jharkhand which is on the outskirts of the capital and which usually touches temperatures close to the freezing point in December, was colder at 9.6�C today.
The mercury plunged to 10.5�C in Bokaro today in comparison to yesterday’s 16.1. The witnessed a drop of around six degrees in 24 hours. Today’s minimum temperature in Bokaro was two points below normal.
The officials said that similar conditions will continue to prevail in the city in the coming days. The poor people on the streets have been the worst hit by the cold wave. Footpath dwellers and poor were seen cluster around bonfires lit from dry woods, used tyres and even garbage to beat the cold.
�The weather conditions have witnessed a sea change in last two days. The cool breeze has left us shivering however, we are happy that the schools of our children are getting closed for vacation,� said Ramakant Shrikant, a resident of Sonari.
Meawhile, roadside tea stalls did a brisk business all day. The number of persons visiting the Jubilee Park and Gopal Maidan for morning and evening walks had dwindled significantly on Wednesday due to the biting cold.
Weatherman forecast that there will be no respite from the cold in the coming days.Significantly, both minimum and maximum temperatures were below normal all over the State. The chill in the atmosphere can even be felt during the day, despite bright sunshine.
According to the information a slender sunshine was also witnessed today afternoon, which may increase the minimum temperature. However, no significant change is likely during the next 24 hours.
