Belagavi Shivers: Unprecedented Cold Grips the Region

It’s a bone-chilling cold that has truly settled over Belagavi, making daily life feel quite different these past few days. The mercury, you see, has taken an alarming dive, plunging to levels we haven't witnessed in quite a while. For many, it feels like an honest-to-goodness cold wave, even if the official declaration hasn't quite caught up yet.

Just recently, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 8.6 degrees Celsius. Now, to put that into perspective, let's look back a bit. In 2022, around this very same time, it was a relatively mild 12.2 degrees. Go back to 2021, and it was 11.2 degrees; 2020 saw 10.8 degrees, and even 2019 was a warmer 9.7 degrees. So, an 8.6-degree reading isn't just cold; it's a significant, multi-year low, and it certainly feels that way when you step outside.

This unusually harsh chill began making its presence felt around the 7th or 8th of December, and since then, the temperatures have pretty much stayed stubbornly below the 10-degree mark. It’s the kind of weather that forces everyone to adjust. You’ll notice fewer people out on their usual morning walks, preferring the warmth of their homes. Markets, typically bustling hubs of activity, appear almost deserted in the early hours as people simply choose to stay indoors, wrapped in layers.

Across the district, in places like Sankeshwar, Kakati, and Marihal, residents are telling similar stories of a pervasive cold that bites deep. To combat the pervasive chill, many are turning to traditional remedies – huddling around bonfires, sipping hot beverages, and, of course, layering up with every warm garment they own. It's a collective effort to ward off the cold's persistent grip.

Beyond just discomfort, there’s a genuine worry among the farming community. Such low temperatures, especially if prolonged, can pose a serious threat to various crops, potentially impacting livelihoods. One can only hope for a gradual rise in temperatures soon, bringing some much-needed relief to Belagavi and its hardworking residents. Until then, it’s all about staying warm and weathering this unseasonable, intense cold spell.