The alert comes as the Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, continues to draw millions of devotees.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on January 16 and 17 issued an orange alert for Prayagraj, warning of expected downpours and foggy conditions as the part of western disturbance. The alert comes as the Kumbh Mela, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, continues to draw millions of devotees.
An IMD scientist informed ANI that rainfall and fog are likely to affect the region. While the fog is not expected to be very dense, its impact could still be significant.
IMD Scientist Soma Sen Roy explained the broader weather patterns impacting the region. "A western disturbance is currently located over Pakistan, with an induced cyclonic circulation over South Haryana moving eastward. As a result, thunderstorms are expected in the hilly areas, snowfall in the hill states, and rainfall in western Uttar Pradesh," she said.
The Meteorological Department has also forecasted another western disturbance from January 18 to 19, followed by another from January 21 to 22, which is likely to bring rainfall to both hill states and plains.
The temperatures in northwest India including Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab are expected to decline by 2-3 degrees Celsius in the next couple of days. As a result, these regions are expected to experience dense fog on January 17 and January 18. A yellow alert for dense fog in western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana has been issued for the same duration.