Hubballi: The temperature is likely to dip in the coming days in North Karnataka, and it may trigger cold wave conditions across the region. People of Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Vijayapura districts are already experiencing severe cold weather conditions in the early hours of the day, and it is likely to continue for the next two days.
Increasing cold is now prompting people to buy sweaters, jackets, and other items to keep themselves warm.
On Wednesday, the Bidar administration declared a red alert for the district, cautioning people to take maximum care to protect themselves from the increasing cold. The district administration’s alert came following the India meteorological department’s (IMD) prediction that a cold wave is likely to hit Bidar, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi districts for the next 2-3 days. It has also predicted a “fall in minimum temperature of 6-7°C from normal for the next three days over Bidar, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi districts and a fall of minimum temperature by 4-5°C from normal over Yadgir, Raichur, and Bagalkot districts.”
In the wake of the prediction, Bidar additional deputy commissioner Shivakumar Sheelavant has issued a red alert and appealed to the people not to venture out of their houses, to avoid walking, riding bikes, and working early morning and after sunset to protect themselves from cold waves. He also advised people to wear sweaters, hand gloves, socks, jackets, woollen caps, and other clothes to stay warm. Farmers are also asked not to stay at night in their fields and not to take up agricultural activities in the early hours to avoid cold waves.
Many shops have been seeing brisk buying of sweaters, caps, jackets, and rugs in Hubballi, Dharwad, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, and other districts of the North Karnataka region. Many people are also avoiding morning walks. Experts have also asked people to take proper measures to keep children, patients, and the elderly safe from cold waves.
CS Patil, scientist, Met Centre, Bengaluru, told TOI that Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Vijayapura are likely to face severe cold weather following the dip in minimum temperatures by 6-7°C from normal for the next couple of days. “Then, the temperature will increase, but it is likely to dip further after Dec 24, and cold wave conditions may continue,” he said.
“There are predictions that there will be severe cold waves in Jan across the North Karnataka region. As the cold weather is slowly increasing across the state, people should take proper precautions to stay warm and protect themselves from the chill weather,” he said.
