Cold wave grips city as dense fog engulfs Amritsar
Office hours and commercial activity were delayed due to fog
A dense blanket of fog enveloped the region on Monday morning, greeting residents with a grey, low-visibility skyline and bringing daily life to a near standstill. The fog, which has persisted for the third consecutive day, continued to disrupt traffic movement and posed serious risks to commuters across the city and adjoining areas.
Poor visibility during the early morning hours has already taken a toll, with a series of road accidents reported over the past two days. One person lost his life in fog-related mishaps, while several vehicles were damaged.
Commuters described driving conditions as extremely hazardous, particularly on highways and poorly lit stretches where visibility dropped sharply. A truck laden with gravel overturned on the bypass road near the Sabzi Mandi, damaging at least three vehicles and bringing traffic to a halt during peak hours on Monday morning.
Normal visibility was restored only around 11 am on Monday, delaying office timings and commercial activities. Public transport services were seen operating at a slower pace, with drivers exercising extra caution amid the foggy conditions. Many residents reported spending additional time on the roads, adding to stress and fuel consumption.
While the dense fog highlighted the growing intensity of winter, commuters and road users pointed to deeper structural issues worsening the situation. The absence of adequate road signage, reflectors, lane markings and functional streetlights has made navigation difficult even during normal weather. During foggy conditions, these shortcomings significantly increase the risk of accidents.
Traffic police officials advised motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during early morning hours, maintain safe distances and use fog lights. They also appealed to drivers to reduce speed and strictly follow traffic rules.
The Meteorological Department has forecast that foggy mornings are likely to continue over the next few days due to prevailing cold and calm wind conditions. Residents have urged authorities to treat fog-related accidents as a recurring safety concern and take urgent steps to improve road infrastructure.
