Overnight readings show Kolkata at 10.8°C, while surrounding areas like South 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman logged even lower figures. Visibility dropped to under 50 meters in some spots due to thick fog, impacting road and rail travel significantly.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has classified this as an ‘intense cold wave,’ driven by cold northern winds clashing with moisture-laden southern currents. ‘Expect no respite till mid-week,’ IMD’s regional head cautioned, predicting sustained lows through Wednesday.

Life in the affected districts grinds slower under the freeze. Street vendors huddle over fires, schools operate shorter hours, and power consumption spikes as heaters run overtime. Fishermen on the Hooghly River stay docked, awaiting clearer skies.

Government response includes distribution of warm blankets in rural pockets and alerts for orange zones prone to frostbite. Economically, vegetable prices climb as supply chains falter in the fog. This cold wave underscores climate’s unpredictability in a region more accustomed to monsoons than mittens.

As dawn breaks on another frosty morning, West Bengal braces for more of the same, hoping for sunnier days ahead.