Jharkhand Shivers Under Intense Cold: McCluskieganj Hits Minus 2°C, Khunti Records 1.4°C

Ranchi: A severe cold wave continued to grip large parts of Jharkhand on Saturday, with temperatures plummeting below 10°C in eight districts of the state. Freezing winds and harsh cold have made the winter chill particularly biting across the region.

The coldest readings were recorded in McCluskieganj, near Ranchi, where the mercury dropped to minus 2°C. Khunti emerged as the coldest district in the state, recording a minimum temperature of 1.4°C. Other notable low temperatures included 3.5°C in Daltonganj and 6.1°C in Bokaro Thermal.

Yellow Alert Issued

The Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘Yellow’ alert for Gumla, Ranchi, and Khunti districts, warning that cold conditions are likely to persist until Sunday morning at 8:30 AM.

According to Abhishek Anand, Deputy Director of the Ranchi Weather Centre, “Continuous northwesterly to northerly winds at the upper atmospheric level are contributing to the cold wave in several districts of Jharkhand.” He added that over the next 48 hours, minimum temperatures are expected to rise by 2–3°C.

In the last 24 hours, Ranchi recorded a minimum of 6.4°C, Chaibasa 6.6°C, and Jamshedpur 8.0°C. Districts including Khunti, Gumla, Latehar, Pakur, Daltonganj (Palamu), Lohardaga, Ranchi, and Bokaro saw temperatures drop below 10°C.

The persistent cold wave continues to impact daily life, with residents advised to take precautions against the harsh winter conditions.