Cold intensifies, Khattar asks DCs to ensure no one sleeps in the open
KARNAL/HISAR/CHANDIGARH: Cold wave conditions and fog gripped the northern districts of the state, effecting normal life.
Rail and road traffic remained hit for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday as the minimum temperature hovered between 5 and 7 degree Celsius in Karnal, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar districts, which is 10 notches below normal limit.
Hisar in Haryana shuddered at 3 degrees Celsius. Sirsa braved the cold at 4.4 degrees Celsius. Karnal recorded a low of 5.5 degrees Celsius, Rohtak 5 degrees and Bhiwani 5.6°C.
Meanwhile, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar directed the deputy commissioners to personally ensure that no person, whether homeless or otherwise, sleeps in the open or on the road in view of the prevailing cold conditions in the state.
An official release said that all deputy commissioners were asked to ensure that roads and open areas in their district were closely inspected by senior officers during the night with immediate effect.
The inspecting officers should carry with them sufficient number of blankets to make sure that during the process of shifting every such person to the nearest night shelter; he or she was adequately protected against the cold, Khattar told them. Khattar also directed them to ensure that all night shelters were in perfect order.
Apart from this, they should keep local MLAs and ministers informed of these steps, and seek their guidance, support and participation.
The deputy commissioner, Panipat, had been told to assist other DCs who might approach him for ensuring immediate availability of adequate number of blankets, the release added.
SCHOOLCHILDREN ON RECEIVING END
Meanwhile, schools in the state remained closed following the directions of the state government.This, however, did not bring any relief to students preparing for board exams, who had go for private tuitions, as their exams are likely start in the first week of March.
“Our monthly tests were cancelled as the government ordered schools to remain shut till January 8. But we still have to go out for private tuitions, which is about 6 kilometres from our village,” said Diksha Sharma, a Class-12 student.
COLD WAVE TO INTENSIFY: MET
As per the Met department, the minimum temperature in the state is around 7°C while the maximum temperature is around 18°C.
The department has forecast dry weather and moderate to dense fog at many places over the next three days.
CHILL BRINGS CHEER TO WHEAT FARMERS
The prevailing weather conditions has, meanwhile, brought cheer among wheat growers as the cold conditions are favourable for a bumper crop.
Talking to Hindustan Times, Karam Chand, deputy director Haryana agriculture department, said, “Yes, the prevailing weather conditions are in favour of wheat crop as it helps the growth of the crop at this stage.” “The yield may remain above 20 quintals per acre if the weather remains in favour of the crop for the next one month,” said Madan Lal, a farmer from Karnal. The officials of the state agriculture department are expecting that the wheat production may remain around 114 lakh metric tonne this year as the state has about 25.50 lakh hectares under wheat this year.
‘SPREAD ROAD SAFETY AWARENESS’
In wake of the foggy weather conditions, Fatehabad deputy commissioner (DC) Hardeep Singh on Thursday directed officials of the police department to impart knowledge about road safety to everyone, including school-going students.
“Driving or riding during dense fog is really dangerous and one must avoid such situations. In case of emergency, the drivers must follow the traffic rules to save their own and others lives too,” he said.
Sirsa SHO (traffic) Anil Sodhi, on Thursday, met the vehicle owners near Lal Batti Chowk in Sirsa city and stopped vehicles found breaching the traffic rules.
RAIL AND ROAD TRAFFIC REMAINED HIT AT MANY PLACES
DUE TO THE FOGGY