Uttar Pradesh Schools Closed Till Jan 5 Amid Intense Cold Wave, Visibility Hits Zero in Several Districts

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{ "title": "Uttar Pradesh Schools Closed Till Jan 5 Amid Intense Cold Wave, Visibility Hits Zero in Several Districts", "article": "In a bid to protect students from the harsh winter conditions, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered the closure of all schools in the state until January 5. This decision comes as the state grapples with an intense cold wave, characterized by dense to very dense fog and below-normal temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of dense to very dense fog conditions in both west and east Uttar Pradesh during the night and early morning hours until January 5. This has led to severely reduced visibility in multiple districts, with some areas experiencing near-zero visibility. According to the IMD, visibility levels have dropped to as low as 50 meters in cities like Lucknow, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Ghazipur. Other areas such as Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Prayagraj, Kanpur, and Azamgarh have also reported extremely low visibility levels. The IMD has noted that the prolonged cold stress, particularly during early morning and night-time hours, is a major concern in the state. The minimum temperatures have dipped below normal, with departures of more than 5 degrees Celsius below seasonal averages at isolated places in both east and west Uttar Pradesh. To mitigate the effects of the cold wave, the state government has instructed officials to stay on high alert, conduct field inspections, distribute blankets, and ensure full preparedness at night shelters. The government is also working to prevent people from sleeping outdoors and to provide relief to those affected by the severe weather conditions."