Europe battles snowfall; weather warnings issued in many areas

A cold wave swept through Delhi on Wednesday morning as the minimum temperature dropped to 3.6 degrees Celsius, the lowest this winter, the Met office said.

"The minimum temperature was recorded at 3.6 degree Celsius, four notches below the season's average. It is the lowest temperature recorded so far this year," it said.

Delhi has been reeling under a cold wave for the past a few days. On December 23, the minimum temperature was recorded at 3.7 degrees Celsius. It is expected to dip to 3.0 degrees Celsius after December 28.

The weatherman has predicted clear skies throughout the day on Wednesday and the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 20 degrees Celsius.

According to the Met department, humidity level recorded at 8.30 am was 97 per cent.&nbsp;On Tuesday, the minimum temperature had settled at 5.0 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/srinagar-records-coldest-night-in-11-years-minimum-plunges-to-minus-68-degrees-celsius-186137">recorded the coldest night in 11 years</a> as the minimum temperature plunged to minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, resulting in partial freezing of the Dal Lake and water supply lines to residential areas on Monday.

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Jammu &amp; Kashmir: Parts of Srinagar's Dal Lake are frozen due to cold wave conditions in the region <a href="https://t.co/ODpgz64KlW">pic.twitter.com/ODpgz64KlW</a>
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The all-time low recorded in the month of December in Srinagar is minus 12.8 degrees Celsius on December 13, 1934.

"Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius. This is the coldest recorded temperature in the city in almost 11 years. The city had registered a low of minus 7.2 degrees Celsius on December 31, 2007," an official of the MET department told PTI on Monday.

The cold wave resulted in freezing of some water bodies, including the fringes of the famous Dal Lake here, and residential water supply pipes.

A cold wave swept through Delhi on Wednesday morning as the minimum temperature dropped to 3.6 degrees Celsius, the lowest this winter, the Met office said. "The minimum temperature was recorded at 3.

A cold wave swept through Delhi on Wednesday morning as the minimum temperature dropped to 3.6 degrees Celsius, the lowest this winter, the Met office said. "The minimum temperature was recorded at 3.6 degree Celsius, four notches below the season's average. It is the lowest temperature recorded so far this year," it said. Delhi has been reeling under a cold wave for the past a few days. On December 23, the minimum temperature was recorded at 3.7 degrees Celsius. It is expected to dip to 3.0 degrees Celsius after December 28. The weatherman has predicted clear skies throughout the day on Wednesday and the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 20 degrees Celsius. According to the Met department, humidity level recorded at 8.30 am was 97 per cent. On Tuesday, the minimum temperature had settled at 5.0 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- recorded the coldest night in 11 years as the minimum temperature plunged to minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, resulting in partial freezing of the Dal Lake and water supply lines to residential areas on Monday. Jammu & Kashmir: Parts of Srinagar's Dal Lake are frozen due to cold wave conditions in the region pic.twitter.com/ODpgz64KlW — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2018 × The all-time low recorded in the month of December in Srinagar is minus 12.8 degrees Celsius on December 13, 1934. "Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius. This is the coldest recorded temperature in the city in almost 11 years. The city had registered a low of minus 7.2 degrees Celsius on December 31, 2007," an official of the MET department told PTI on Monday. The cold wave resulted in freezing of some water bodies, including the fringes of the famous Dal Lake here, and residential water supply pipes.

Delhi records coldest day of month, mercury dips to 3 degrees

Srinagar recorded the coldest night in 11 years as mercury dipped to minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, partially freezing the world famous Dal Lake and other water bodies.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of `Chillai-Kalan` &nbsp;the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.'Chillai-Kalan'&nbsp;ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd'&nbsp;(small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha'&nbsp;(baby cold). As the areas near the lake were engulfed in snow, residents were seen battling with intense fog and chillwave.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), "Srinagar city registered a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius on Monday, which is the coldest recorded temperature in the city in almost 11 years. The city had recorded a low of minus 7.2 degrees Celsius on December 31, 2007.

"This wasn't expected that temperature will dip so early here, we are facing problems like lack of water supply but people are still coming to the city to enjoy winters," a local Pir Gulam Nabi told ANI.

As per the IMD, the temperature in the region will further plummet during the nights.

The minimum temperatures in Pahalgam (One of the base camps for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir), Kargil and Gulmarg were minus 8 degrees Celsius, minus 17 and minus 10, respectively.

Meanwhile, Katra recorded minus 6 degrees Celsius and Bannihal minus 2.

Srinagar recorded the coldest night in 11 years as mercury dipped to minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, partially freezing the world famous Dal Lake and other water bodies.

Srinagar recorded the coldest night in 11 years as mercury dipped to minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, partially freezing the world famous Dal Lake and other water bodies. Kashmir is currently under the grip of `Chillai-Kalan` the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.'Chillai-Kalan' ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold). As the areas near the lake were engulfed in snow, residents were seen battling with intense fog and chillwave. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), "Srinagar city registered a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius on Monday, which is the coldest recorded temperature in the city in almost 11 years. The city had recorded a low of minus 7.2 degrees Celsius on December 31, 2007. "This wasn't expected that temperature will dip so early here, we are facing problems like lack of water supply but people are still coming to the city to enjoy winters," a local Pir Gulam Nabi told ANI. As per the IMD, the temperature in the region will further plummet during the nights. The minimum temperatures in Pahalgam (One of the base camps for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir), Kargil and Gulmarg were minus 8 degrees Celsius, minus 17 and minus 10, respectively. Meanwhile, Katra recorded minus 6 degrees Celsius and Bannihal minus 2.

Dal Lake freezes partially as mercury dips in Kashmir

With a minimum temperature recorded at minus 6.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, Kargil town was the coldest in Jammu and Kashmir, as the Met forecast light snowfall in the higher reaches.&nbsp;

Leh in Ladakh region was at minus 5, while it was minus 4 in Gulmarg, 3.2 in Srinagar and 12.6 degrees Celsius in Jammu and Pahalgam was at 1.1 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

“Snow in the higher reaches and light rain in the next 24 hours is likely (till Wednesday),” the Met official said.

Katra recorded 11.6, Batote 5.1, Bannihal 3.7 and Bhaderwah 3.6 as the minimum temperatures. The maximum temperatures recorded in Srinagar and Jammu were 13.1 and 21.6 degrees Celsius, respectively, on Monday.

With a minimum temperature recorded at minus 6.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, Kargil town was the coldest in Jammu and Kashmir, as the Met forecast light snowfall in the higher reaches.

With a minimum temperature recorded at minus 6.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, Kargil town was the coldest in Jammu and Kashmir, as the Met forecast light snowfall in the higher reaches. Leh in Ladakh region was at minus 5, while it was minus 4 in Gulmarg, 3.2 in Srinagar and 12.6 degrees Celsius in Jammu and Pahalgam was at 1.1 degrees Celsius. “Snow in the higher reaches and light rain in the next 24 hours is likely (till Wednesday),” the Met official said. Katra recorded 11.6, Batote 5.1, Bannihal 3.7 and Bhaderwah 3.6 as the minimum temperatures. The maximum temperatures recorded in Srinagar and Jammu were 13.1 and 21.6 degrees Celsius, respectively, on Monday.

Kargil coldest in Jammu and Kashmir, snowfall and light rain likely in next 24 hours

Delhi's air quality oscillated between "poor" and "very poor" category Sunday as authorities warned of days of severe pollution ahead.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 292, while the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research reported an AQI of 318, which falls in the "very poor" category.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

An official said the air quality of Delhi might deteriorate to "severe" category in the coming days as the air becomes heavier and results in formation of smog.

While Faridabad and Gurgaon recorded "very poor" quality air, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida reported "poor" air quality.

On Saturday, a haze had engulfed the national capital and the worst air quality of this season was recorded at 324.

Anand Vihar, Mundaka, Narela, Dwarka Sector 8, Nehru Nagar and Rohini saw very poor air quality Sunday and were inching towards severe pollution levels, data from the CPCB said.

The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA) on Friday had held a meeting with officials of the Punjab, Haryana and the Delhi governments to discuss the pollution situation in the national capital.

An EPCA member on Friday said stock of the situation was taken and it was decided that special attention would be given to vulnerable hotspots where poor or very poor air quality was observed.

The PM2.5 (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 143. The PM2.5, also called "fine particulates," can be a matter of more serious health concern than PM10.

The PM10 level (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi stood at 269, according to the data from the SAFAR.

A CPCB official said a number of factors were responsible for the deteriorating air quality, including vehicular pollution, construction activities and meteorological factors like direction of wind, which is now flowing from the stubble burning areas.

Satellite imagery by NASA shows countless spot fires already burning in Haryana and Punjab.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday warned that Delhi would become a "gas chamber soon" as the Centre, the Punjab and the Haryana governments were doing "absolutely nothing" for farmers involved in stubble burning.

"We are sad that Central, Punjab and Haryana Govts did absolutely nothing for the farmers. As a result, the farmers will suffer on one hand and Delhi will become a gas chamber soon (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

Delhi's air quality oscillated between "poor" and "very poor" category Sunday as authorities warned of days of severe pollution ahead. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 292, while the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research reported an AQI of 318, which falls in the "very poor" category.

Delhi's air quality oscillated between "poor" and "very poor" category Sunday as authorities warned of days of severe pollution ahead. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 292, while the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research reported an AQI of 318, which falls in the "very poor" category. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". An official said the air quality of Delhi might deteriorate to "severe" category in the coming days as the air becomes heavier and results in formation of smog. While Faridabad and Gurgaon recorded "very poor" quality air, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida reported "poor" air quality. On Saturday, a haze had engulfed the national capital and the worst air quality of this season was recorded at 324. Anand Vihar, Mundaka, Narela, Dwarka Sector 8, Nehru Nagar and Rohini saw very poor air quality Sunday and were inching towards severe pollution levels, data from the CPCB said. The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Protection Control Authority (EPCA) on Friday had held a meeting with officials of the Punjab, Haryana and the Delhi governments to discuss the pollution situation in the national capital. An EPCA member on Friday said stock of the situation was taken and it was decided that special attention would be given to vulnerable hotspots where poor or very poor air quality was observed. The PM2.5 (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 143. The PM2.5, also called "fine particulates," can be a matter of more serious health concern than PM10. The PM10 level (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi stood at 269, according to the data from the SAFAR. A CPCB official said a number of factors were responsible for the deteriorating air quality, including vehicular pollution, construction activities and meteorological factors like direction of wind, which is now flowing from the stubble burning areas. Satellite imagery by NASA shows countless spot fires already burning in Haryana and Punjab. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday warned that Delhi would become a "gas chamber soon" as the Centre, the Punjab and the Haryana governments were doing "absolutely nothing" for farmers involved in stubble burning. "We are sad that Central, Punjab and Haryana Govts did absolutely nothing for the farmers. As a result, the farmers will suffer on one hand and Delhi will become a gas chamber soon (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

Delhi's air quality oscillates between poor and very poor; authorities warn of further deterioration

The canvas of white currently fascinating many viewers of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang may seem totally foreign to those more used to watching sport played under the summer sun. It is grey and cold in the South Korean alpine town. Temperatures drop below -10℃ at night.

Many might have questions about how elite athletes can perform to their best in such cold conditions. So, what&rsquo;s happening to the body in the cold. What stresses does it experience? And what about injury?

What happens to muscle in the cold?

If human muscle is cooled by one degree, it loses 2-5% of its performance. A whole host of muscle properties can be affected, such as the time it takes a muscle to generate peak tension and then the time to relax from this peak.

Cold also disrupts the nervous impulses that control muscle through changes in activation patterns. So, there may be a delay in the sequence in which muscle activates to create and control movement. This equates to about a 10-20% loss in vertical jump height and a reduction of up to 25% in peak muscle power.&nbsp;

For a landing, the limbs and joints become stiffer. This means much more force gets absorbed by a body&rsquo;s trunk rather than in the lower limbs.&nbsp;

The losses in performance have been attributed to an increase in thickness of the fluid in muscle and joints, as well as the disruption of nervous input to muscle.

How does this translate to sporting performance?&nbsp;

In the longer events like cross-country and the longer downhill skiing runs, generating muscle heat isn&rsquo;t as much of an issue. The events are long enough to allow elevated metabolism to generate enough body heat to offset the effects of the cold temperature.&nbsp;

But in the shorter events &ndash; like aerial skiing, moguls, ski jumping and many of the snowboarding events &ndash; getting a good warm-up and maintaining the heat close to the skin are imperative.

Modern winter sport clothing relies on layering to maintain warmth. Athletes generally layer up with a next-to-skin garment, a mid-layer insulation, and an outer layer to protect from the wind and water. The next-to-skin layer is commonly worn to keep skin temperatures (and hopefully muscle temperatures) up.

Many athletes are now also using warming cuffs or pads which they remove just before their event. These self-warming devices fit over the next-to-skin garment and maintain the warmth around the large muscles and joints of the lower limbs.&nbsp; 
But what if you don&rsquo;t have the luxury of being an elite athlete?&nbsp;

The next time you hit the snow or exercise in the cold and don&rsquo;t have the benefit of self-warming garments, take the time to warm up &ndash; thoroughly. This increases your metabolism and, in turn, warms the body from within.&nbsp;

Next, try to maintain the muscle temperature by wearing an insulated, next-to-skin garment that holds some of the heat generated.

And if you&rsquo;re on a chairlift preparing to ski, remember that your muscles are cooling and losing some of their force and power-generating potential. Do a short secondary warm-up at the top of the run, or start up slow and build into the run.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/206313/original/file-20180214-174990-7zh9yk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>
Modern winter sport clothing relies on layering to maintain warmth. EPA/Filip Singer

What about injury?
</figcaption>
</figure>

The most popular winter sports &ndash; downhill skiing and snowboarding &ndash; have quite high injury rates, mostly to the lower limbs. Improper techniques &ndash; especially landing techniques &ndash; have been linked to many of these injuries.

Some studies have also linked colder temperatures to increased injury rates. These studies suggest the increased injury rates are a result of changes in muscle performance coupled with the increased biomechanical demands of winter sport, such as having your feet bound to skis or a snowboard, performing sharp turns, and landing from a jump.

While watching the Pyeonchang Olympics on your couch, spare a thought for the changes in the body caused by the environment these athletes compete in. It fundamentally changes the body parts they rely on to carve, flip, twist, turn, slide, grab and generally shred up the Games&rsquo; white canvas.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-how-winter-olympic-athletes-cope-with-the-cold-91575" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Athletes attending Winter Olympics find it difficult to keep up the performance due to the cold weather

The canvas of white currently fascinating many viewers of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang may seem totally foreign to those more used to watching sport played under the summer sun. It is grey and cold in the South Korean alpine town. Temperatures drop below -10℃ at night. Many might have questions about how elite athletes can perform to their best in such cold conditions. So, what’s happening to the body in the cold. What stresses does it experience? And what about injury? What happens to muscle in the cold? If human muscle is cooled by one degree, it loses 2-5% of its performance. A whole host of muscle properties can be affected, such as the time it takes a muscle to generate peak tension and then the time to relax from this peak. Cold also disrupts the nervous impulses that control muscle through changes in activation patterns. So, there may be a delay in the sequence in which muscle activates to create and control movement. This equates to about a 10-20% loss in vertical jump height and a reduction of up to 25% in peak muscle power. For a landing, the limbs and joints become stiffer. This means much more force gets absorbed by a body’s trunk rather than in the lower limbs. The losses in performance have been attributed to an increase in thickness of the fluid in muscle and joints, as well as the disruption of nervous input to muscle. How does this translate to sporting performance? In the longer events like cross-country and the longer downhill skiing runs, generating muscle heat isn’t as much of an issue. The events are long enough to allow elevated metabolism to generate enough body heat to offset the effects of the cold temperature. But in the shorter events – like aerial skiing, moguls, ski jumping and many of the snowboarding events – getting a good warm-up and maintaining the heat close to the skin are imperative. Modern winter sport clothing relies on layering to maintain warmth. Athletes generally layer up with a next-to-skin garment, a mid-layer insulation, and an outer layer to protect from the wind and water. The next-to-skin layer is commonly worn to keep skin temperatures (and hopefully muscle temperatures) up. Many athletes are now also using warming cuffs or pads which they remove just before their event. These self-warming devices fit over the next-to-skin garment and maintain the warmth around the large muscles and joints of the lower limbs. But what if you don’t have the luxury of being an elite athlete? The next time you hit the snow or exercise in the cold and don’t have the benefit of self-warming garments, take the time to warm up – thoroughly. This increases your metabolism and, in turn, warms the body from within. Next, try to maintain the muscle temperature by wearing an insulated, next-to-skin garment that holds some of the heat generated. And if you’re on a chairlift preparing to ski, remember that your muscles are cooling and losing some of their force and power-generating potential. Do a short secondary warm-up at the top of the run, or start up slow and build into the run. Modern winter sport clothing relies on layering to maintain warmth. EPA/Filip Singer What about injury? The most popular winter sports – downhill skiing and snowboarding – have quite high injury rates, mostly to the lower limbs. Improper techniques – especially landing techniques – have been linked to many of these injuries. Some studies have also linked colder temperatures to increased injury rates. These studies suggest the increased injury rates are a result of changes in muscle performance coupled with the increased biomechanical demands of winter sport, such as having your feet bound to skis or a snowboard, performing sharp turns, and landing from a jump. While watching the Pyeonchang Olympics on your couch, spare a thought for the changes in the body caused by the environment these athletes compete in. It fundamentally changes the body parts they rely on to carve, flip, twist, turn, slide, grab and generally shred up the Games’ white canvas. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: How are Winter Olympic athletes coping with cold in Pyeongchang

Delhi Shelter authorities have claimed that they failed to persuade 1,100 homeless people to shift to night shelters from streets.

The government was informed that roughly 1,167 people across the city have rejected attempts of shifting them to night shelters, by rescue teams.

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), which deploys the rescue teams, has written to the city government&#39;s revenue department apprising it of the situation.

A letter was sent to government informing that around 1,167 people across the city have rejected attempts of shifting to night shelters by rescue teams.

In that letter, it was also mentioned that people who were displaced from Kathputali colony JJ colony which was recently demolished by Delhi Development Authority have been spotted.

The reasons for people refusing to shift to night shelters are considered to be unhygienic conditions, fear of theft, lack of space, and brawls involving junkies.

According to a list attached to the letter, the numbers are 200 near the ISBT, 200 near AIIMS, 150 in Safdarjung, 50 near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and 20 near Hanuman Mandir.

Delhi was experiencing cold waves since New Year&#39;s day due to the snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, there were media reports saying that more than 40 people have been died in Delhi because of the cold.

However, CEO of &nbsp;DUSIB denied reports of anybody dying from cold and said that such deaths cannot be associated with cold as they happen in summers also.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also acknowledged the deaths and called CEO a &quot;useless officer&quot; while attacking Lt Governor Anil Baijal.

Overall above 100 deaths have happened in Northern India in this winter due to severe cold of which more than 70 people died in UP only.

Currently, DUSIB&#39;s 261-night shelters, run through NGOs on a contract basis, have a capacity to house 20,934 people. Singh claimed the peak occupancy during nights this winter season has been 13,810. 
Of the 261 shelters, 83 are concrete structures, 115 are portacabins, while the rest, save one, are tents.

Every night, a subway near AIIMS is thrown open for the families of outstation patients thronging the premier hospital to take shelter. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from news agency)

In that letter, it was also mentioned that people who were displaced from Kathputali colony JJ colony which was recently demolished by Delhi Development Authority have been spotted

Delhi Shelter authorities have claimed that they failed to persuade 1,100 homeless people to shift to night shelters from streets. The government was informed that roughly 1,167 people across the city have rejected attempts of shifting them to night shelters, by rescue teams. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), which deploys the rescue teams, has written to the city government's revenue department apprising it of the situation. A letter was sent to government informing that around 1,167 people across the city have rejected attempts of shifting to night shelters by rescue teams. In that letter, it was also mentioned that people who were displaced from Kathputali colony JJ colony which was recently demolished by Delhi Development Authority have been spotted. The reasons for people refusing to shift to night shelters are considered to be unhygienic conditions, fear of theft, lack of space, and brawls involving junkies. According to a list attached to the letter, the numbers are 200 near the ISBT, 200 near AIIMS, 150 in Safdarjung, 50 near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and 20 near Hanuman Mandir. Delhi was experiencing cold waves since New Year's day due to the snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, there were media reports saying that more than 40 people have been died in Delhi because of the cold. However, CEO of DUSIB denied reports of anybody dying from cold and said that such deaths cannot be associated with cold as they happen in summers also. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also acknowledged the deaths and called CEO a "useless officer" while attacking Lt Governor Anil Baijal. Overall above 100 deaths have happened in Northern India in this winter due to severe cold of which more than 70 people died in UP only. Currently, DUSIB's 261-night shelters, run through NGOs on a contract basis, have a capacity to house 20,934 people. Singh claimed the peak occupancy during nights this winter season has been 13,810. Of the 261 shelters, 83 are concrete structures, 115 are portacabins, while the rest, save one, are tents. Every night, a subway near AIIMS is thrown open for the families of outstation patients thronging the premier hospital to take shelter. (With inputs from news agency)

DUSIB says,1,100 homeless in Delhi prefer streets over shelters

Beijing issued its first major smog alert of the winter for the capital, triggering stringent measures to curb output of heavy industry as plunging temperatures spurred heating demand.

The orange alert issued late on Thursday, the second highest on China&#39;s four-level system, comes after Beijing was reported to have made big improvements in air quality last year as industrial activity shifted away from the capital.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection warned in a statement that heavy air pollution will envelope Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and the surrounding area from Friday until Jan. 17.

According to the forecast, southern areas of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, southern Shanxi, western Shandong, northern Hebei will suffer from toxic air from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15. On Jan 15, level of air pollution is expected to surge to the maximum, it said.

Under an orange alert, factories that make furniture, cement and other heavy industry must limit output by between 30 and 50 percent. A list of companies in the capital affected contains more than 700 enterprises.

The capital has been largely spared the notoriously bad air that typically blankets the north during the colder winter months when people crank up the heat in their homes in part to the government&#39;s stringent anti-smog measures, including curbing factory output and banning coal burning in homes.

But this alert comes a month after the government was forced to reverse its ban on coal for heating as gas shortages left people freezing and after a prolonged bout of freezing weather across the north.

The city issued an orange alert in early November before the winter heating season started on Nov. 15.

On Wednesday, the government said all 28 Chinese cities in a demanding winter anti-smog campaign met their air quality targets from October to December, the environment ministry.

The 28 northern cities were ordered to cut concentrations of small, breathable particles known as PM2.5 by 10-25 percent during October 2017-March 2018. They have been curbing industrial output, thinning traffic and cracking down on coal use in a bid to limit smog build-ups.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection warned in a statement that heavy air pollution will envelope Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and the surrounding area from Friday until Jan. 17

Beijing issued its first major smog alert of the winter for the capital, triggering stringent measures to curb output of heavy industry as plunging temperatures spurred heating demand. The orange alert issued late on Thursday, the second highest on China's four-level system, comes after Beijing was reported to have made big improvements in air quality last year as industrial activity shifted away from the capital. The Ministry of Environmental Protection warned in a statement that heavy air pollution will envelope Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and the surrounding area from Friday until Jan. 17. According to the forecast, southern areas of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, southern Shanxi, western Shandong, northern Hebei will suffer from toxic air from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15. On Jan 15, level of air pollution is expected to surge to the maximum, it said. Under an orange alert, factories that make furniture, cement and other heavy industry must limit output by between 30 and 50 percent. A list of companies in the capital affected contains more than 700 enterprises. The capital has been largely spared the notoriously bad air that typically blankets the north during the colder winter months when people crank up the heat in their homes in part to the government's stringent anti-smog measures, including curbing factory output and banning coal burning in homes. But this alert comes a month after the government was forced to reverse its ban on coal for heating as gas shortages left people freezing and after a prolonged bout of freezing weather across the north. The city issued an orange alert in early November before the winter heating season started on Nov. 15. On Wednesday, the government said all 28 Chinese cities in a demanding winter anti-smog campaign met their air quality targets from October to December, the environment ministry. The 28 northern cities were ordered to cut concentrations of small, breathable particles known as PM2.5 by 10-25 percent during October 2017-March 2018. They have been curbing industrial output, thinning traffic and cracking down on coal use in a bid to limit smog build-ups.

China's capital issues first major smog alert of winter

As dense fog and cold waves continued to cover the national capital,&nbsp;train&nbsp;services have taken a hit in Delhi and NCR with over&nbsp;70 being affected.

Out of 70 trains, 45 arrived late and 22 were cancelled.

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Delhi: 45 trains arriving late, 22 cancelled &amp; 4 rescheduled due to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fog</a>/operational reasons.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/950552128094744576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Four trains were rescheduled.

Similarly, two arriving and six departing flights were delayed due to decreased visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport

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Delhi: 2 arriving and 6 departing flights delayed due to decreased visibility because of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fog</a>.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/950550741680234496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, the Haryana government has also directed all government and private schools to remain closed&nbsp;till January 14.&nbsp;

According to reports, air pollution in Delhi has decreased, with some places recording &#39;poor&#39; while others witnessing &#39;moderate&#39; air quality.

(Inputs from news agency)

Out of 70, 45 trains are arriving late while 22 have been cancelled

As dense fog and cold waves continued to cover the national capital, train services have taken a hit in Delhi and NCR with over 70 being affected. Out of 70 trains, 45 arrived late and 22 were cancelled. Delhi: 45 trains arriving late, 22 cancelled & 4 rescheduled due to #fog/operational reasons. — ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2018 × Four trains were rescheduled. Similarly, two arriving and six departing flights were delayed due to decreased visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi: 2 arriving and 6 departing flights delayed due to decreased visibility because of #fog. — ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2018 × Meanwhile, the Haryana government has also directed all government and private schools to remain closed till January 14. According to reports, air pollution in Delhi has decreased, with some places recording 'poor' while others witnessing 'moderate' air quality. (Inputs from news agency)

Over 70 trains affected as fog shrouds Delhi

With the mercury dropping over 15 degrees Celsius below the freezing point, normal life in Leh region of Jammu and Kashmir remain affected due to harsh weather.

With frozen taps becoming a common sight, frequent power cuts are only amplifying the cold and adding to the discomfort of the residents.

&quot;We are having major shortage of water. It is very cold here. The tap and the pipes freeze and we have to light fire to de-ice taps and the water pipeline,&quot; said a local.

&quot;Our daily lives have been disrupted. There is no electricity, no water. We are facing lot of difficulties in doing our regular basic chores,&quot; added another Local.

&quot;As the temperatures drops drastically during night, the public post tape water point gets freezes during winter and it needs at least half an hour heating to withdraw water every morning,&quot; said another local.

With the mercury dropping by over 15 degrees Celsius below the freezing point, Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Ladakh region has become the coldest recorded place in the state.

The Leh region in Ladakh continued to be cut off from the rest of the world by surface due to heavy snowfall on higher reaches, for over six months now.

The two gateways to Ladakh region -- Zojila pass from Srinagar side and Rohtang La and Taglang La pass from Manali side -- continued to remain closed for vehicular traffic since November.

However, in the recent years, some of the winter sports, such as Ice Skating, Ice Hockey Tournament and Chadar trek, are becoming popular among the youth.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of &#39;Chillai-Kalan&#39;, the 40-day harshest winter period. It will end on January 31 but the cold wave conditions will continue in the Valley.

With frozen taps becoming a common sight, frequent power cuts are only amplifying the cold and adding to the discomfort of the residents

With the mercury dropping over 15 degrees Celsius below the freezing point, normal life in Leh region of Jammu and Kashmir remain affected due to harsh weather. With frozen taps becoming a common sight, frequent power cuts are only amplifying the cold and adding to the discomfort of the residents. "We are having major shortage of water. It is very cold here. The tap and the pipes freeze and we have to light fire to de-ice taps and the water pipeline," said a local. "Our daily lives have been disrupted. There is no electricity, no water. We are facing lot of difficulties in doing our regular basic chores," added another Local. "As the temperatures drops drastically during night, the public post tape water point gets freezes during winter and it needs at least half an hour heating to withdraw water every morning," said another local. With the mercury dropping by over 15 degrees Celsius below the freezing point, Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region has become the coldest recorded place in the state. The Leh region in Ladakh continued to be cut off from the rest of the world by surface due to heavy snowfall on higher reaches, for over six months now. The two gateways to Ladakh region -- Zojila pass from Srinagar side and Rohtang La and Taglang La pass from Manali side -- continued to remain closed for vehicular traffic since November. However, in the recent years, some of the winter sports, such as Ice Skating, Ice Hockey Tournament and Chadar trek, are becoming popular among the youth. Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan', the 40-day harshest winter period. It will end on January 31 but the cold wave conditions will continue in the Valley.

Dipping mercury disrupts daily life in Leh

The Delhi government may use anti-smog guns to try and bring down pollution levels.

To test the efficacy of the move, a trial was conducted Monday.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;gun&nbsp;sprays atomised water into the air, which then helps bring down pollution.&nbsp;

The gun is connected to a water tanker and can be transported around the city.

The trial on Monday evening was conducted at the Delhi Secretariat.

Officials said the&nbsp;gun can spray water up to a height of 50 metres.&nbsp;

Environment Secretary Anil Kumar Singh apprised Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal of the trial run during a meeting to review the detailed action plans of agencies and stakeholders to combat air pollution.

&quot;The plan should cover a time-frame not exceeding 16 months and also indicate the exact requirement of funds. The chief secretary has been asked to coordinate and finalise it,&quot; the LG&#39;s office said in a statement.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Environment Minister Imran Hussain also attended the trial run.&nbsp;

Another trial will be conducted Wednesday at Anand Vihar ISBT.&nbsp;

The gun, if the authorities decided to buy it, will cost around Rs 20 lakh a piece.&nbsp;

The?gun?sprays atomised water into the air, which then helps bring down pollution

The Delhi government may use anti-smog guns to try and bring down pollution levels. To test the efficacy of the move, a trial was conducted Monday. The gun sprays atomised water into the air, which then helps bring down pollution. The gun is connected to a water tanker and can be transported around the city. The trial on Monday evening was conducted at the Delhi Secretariat. Officials said the gun can spray water up to a height of 50 metres. Environment Secretary Anil Kumar Singh apprised Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal of the trial run during a meeting to review the detailed action plans of agencies and stakeholders to combat air pollution. "The plan should cover a time-frame not exceeding 16 months and also indicate the exact requirement of funds. The chief secretary has been asked to coordinate and finalise it," the LG's office said in a statement. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Environment Minister Imran Hussain also attended the trial run. Another trial will be conducted Wednesday at Anand Vihar ISBT. The gun, if the authorities decided to buy it, will cost around Rs 20 lakh a piece.

Delhi government mulls use of anti-smog guns to fight pollution

As mid-December approaches, winter is at its peak and most of the places in north India are witnessing sub-zero temperatures.

During past 24 hours, Keylong in Lahul-Spiti recorded minimum temperature of -4.9 degree Celsius, Kalpa was at -1.0 degrees Celsius and Dalhousie at -0.2 degree Celsius, the weather department in Shimla said on Wednesday.

The Queen of Hills and popular tourist destination Shimla recorded a temperature of 3.4 degree Celsius, the MeT department said.

Delhi and a few areas in north India witnessed light rains on Tuesday, which led to sharp drop in temperatures.

In Punjab, Amritsar had a cold day at 15.8 degrees Celsius, down six notches against normal limit, while the low temperature settled at 10.8 degrees Celsius, up six notches.

The maximum temperature in Ludhiana was 16.4 degrees Celsius, down five notches and the minimum temperature was 12.4 degrees Celsius.

Patiala, too, had a cold day at 16.7 degrees Celsius. The minimum was recorded at 13.5 degrees Celsius.

Hisar and Karnal in Haryana recorded below normal maximum temperature at 18.4 and 18 degrees Celsius respectively while the respective minimums at these places settled at 12.9 and 12.9 degrees Celsius, which were above normal.

According to the MeT forecast, moderate to dense fog was likely to occur at isolated places during next three days in Haryana and Punjab.

During past 24 hours, Keylong in Lahul-Spiti recorded minimum temperature of -4.9 degree Celsius, Kalpa was at -1.0 degrees Celsius and Dalhousie at -0.2 degree Celsius, the weather department in Shimla said on Wednesday.

As mid-December approaches, winter is at its peak and most of the places in north India are witnessing sub-zero temperatures. During past 24 hours, Keylong in Lahul-Spiti recorded minimum temperature of -4.9 degree Celsius, Kalpa was at -1.0 degrees Celsius and Dalhousie at -0.2 degree Celsius, the weather department in Shimla said on Wednesday. The Queen of Hills and popular tourist destination Shimla recorded a temperature of 3.4 degree Celsius, the MeT department said. Delhi and a few areas in north India witnessed light rains on Tuesday, which led to sharp drop in temperatures. In Punjab, Amritsar had a cold day at 15.8 degrees Celsius, down six notches against normal limit, while the low temperature settled at 10.8 degrees Celsius, up six notches. The maximum temperature in Ludhiana was 16.4 degrees Celsius, down five notches and the minimum temperature was 12.4 degrees Celsius. Patiala, too, had a cold day at 16.7 degrees Celsius. The minimum was recorded at 13.5 degrees Celsius. Hisar and Karnal in Haryana recorded below normal maximum temperature at 18.4 and 18 degrees Celsius respectively while the respective minimums at these places settled at 12.9 and 12.9 degrees Celsius, which were above normal. According to the MeT forecast, moderate to dense fog was likely to occur at isolated places during next three days in Haryana and Punjab.

Winter intensifies, most places in north India witness sub-zero temperatures

The national capital woke up to moderate fog on Saturday morning with temperature recorded at 11-degree celsius by 7:30 am.

Six trains were cancelled following the low visibility due to the fog.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: 25 trains running late, 4 rescheduled and 6 cancelled due to fog.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/936777533839720448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Twenty-five trains are also running late and four got rescheduled.

There are no reports of flight delaying or cancellation yet.

According to weather reports, Saturday&#39;s maximum temperature may go up to 26 degree Celsius while the minimum may remain at 10-degree celsius.&nbsp;

The national capital woke up to moderate fog on Saturday morning with temperature recorded at 11? Celsius by 7:30 AM

The national capital woke up to moderate fog on Saturday morning with temperature recorded at 11-degree celsius by 7:30 am. Six trains were cancelled following the low visibility due to the fog. #Delhi: 25 trains running late, 4 rescheduled and 6 cancelled due to fog. — ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2017 × Twenty-five trains are also running late and four got rescheduled. There are no reports of flight delaying or cancellation yet. According to weather reports, Saturday's maximum temperature may go up to 26 degree Celsius while the minimum may remain at 10-degree celsius.

Delhi: 25 trains running late, 6 cancelled due to fog

The Chinese military&nbsp;Thursday hinted at maintaining a sizeable presence of its troops near the area of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/doklam-standoff-army-takes-steps-for-swift-troop-movement-along-china-border-24993" target="_blank">Doklam standoff</a> during winter, asserting that the region is in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-maintaining-sizeable-troops-near-dokalam-sources-21062" target="_blank">Chinese territory</a>.

Earlier, India and China<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/post-doklam-india-china-to-hold-track-two-meeting-23250" target="_blank"> resolved</a> the 73-day&nbsp;standoff on August 28 at Doklam area. This had happened after the People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) stopped building a strategic road close to India&#39;s narrow Chicken Neck area connecting to North-Eastern states. The area is also claimed by Bhutan.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-army-chief-wants-normalcy-in-doklam-6613" target="_blank">Indian army chief wants normalcy in Doklam</a>

India objected to the road building by the PLA, saying that it endangered the security of the narrow corridor.

According to official accounts, both India and China in the past used to withdraw troops from the advanced regions of that area during&nbsp;winter.&nbsp;

&quot;Donglong (Doklam) is Chinese territory,&quot; Col Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese ministry of defence said today when asked about reports that PLA continues to maintain a sizeable number of troops close to the Doklam standoff area and doing away with the practice of vacating the place during winter.

&quot;Based on this principle we will decide on the deployment of troops on our own,&quot; he said without elaborating.

The continued presence of Chinese troops near Yatung area close to Doklam reportedly prompted India too to maintain its troops&#39; presence there.

While it is not clear whether the issue figured in the 10th round of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) talks between India and China here on November 17, officials said the meeting reviewed the situation in all sectors of India-China border and exchanged views on enhancing Confidence Building Measures (CBMS) and military contacts.

Asked whether the two sides made progress to establish hotlines between the two militaries to avert a crisis like Doklam, Wu said both sides are in touch on this issue.

He, however, clarified that the hotline can&#39;t be between the two military headquarters as China no longer has a military central office after the recent reforms.

At the WMCC meeting, the two sides discussed maintaining peace and stability and border exchanges, Wu said, adding that both sides will keep in contact with each other. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

India and China had earlier resolved the 73-day tense standoff on August 28 at Doklam

The Chinese military Thursday hinted at maintaining a sizeable presence of its troops near the area of Doklam standoff during winter, asserting that the region is in Chinese territory. Earlier, India and China resolved the 73-day standoff on August 28 at Doklam area. This had happened after the People's Liberation Army (PLA) stopped building a strategic road close to India's narrow Chicken Neck area connecting to North-Eastern states. The area is also claimed by Bhutan. Watch: Indian army chief wants normalcy in Doklam India objected to the road building by the PLA, saying that it endangered the security of the narrow corridor. According to official accounts, both India and China in the past used to withdraw troops from the advanced regions of that area during winter. "Donglong (Doklam) is Chinese territory," Col Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese ministry of defence said today when asked about reports that PLA continues to maintain a sizeable number of troops close to the Doklam standoff area and doing away with the practice of vacating the place during winter. "Based on this principle we will decide on the deployment of troops on our own," he said without elaborating. The continued presence of Chinese troops near Yatung area close to Doklam reportedly prompted India too to maintain its troops' presence there. While it is not clear whether the issue figured in the 10th round of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) talks between India and China here on November 17, officials said the meeting reviewed the situation in all sectors of India-China border and exchanged views on enhancing Confidence Building Measures (CBMS) and military contacts. Asked whether the two sides made progress to establish hotlines between the two militaries to avert a crisis like Doklam, Wu said both sides are in touch on this issue. He, however, clarified that the hotline can't be between the two military headquarters as China no longer has a military central office after the recent reforms. At the WMCC meeting, the two sides discussed maintaining peace and stability and border exchanges, Wu said, adding that both sides will keep in contact with each other.

Doklam our territory: China on troop deployment near stand-off area in winter

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