Severe cold wave swept through Nagaland for the sixth day Friday with continuous fogs and freezing waters in all the upper reaches of Nagaland and all the mountain peaks frost capped in most districts.
According to official sources at Kohima Friday, the state capital in the past few days experienced cold wave with temperature dipping down as low as 0.8 degree Celsius as recorded at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
Sources quoting Kohima Meteorological Observatory under Soil and Water Conservation department informed that the temperature in Kohima was likely to go down further to minus degree Celsius.
After the installation of the Kohima Meteorological Observatory during the 1980s, this was the first time that the temperature in the capital has dropped down this low, as the usual temperature in previous years hovered around 3.2 degree Celsius during this time of the year.
Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, has also been reeling under severe weather conditions though not as alarming as those reported from the upper reaches.
Dimapur Metrological Observatory under Soil and Water Conservation Department recorded a 6.4 degree Celsius on January 11, while on January 10, the temperature dipped down to 6.2 degree Celsius, the lowest recorded so far after the installation of the observatory in 2005.
The highest altitude town of Nagaland, Pfutsero under Phek district has also experienced under minus zero degrees Celsius as roads were covered with frosts in the morning.
Most of the time during the day, the sky remained cloudy leading to the death of many domesticated fowls, hens and ducks.
It has been learnt that even rare bird species have also become casualty of the severe cold wave in the entire Phek district, sources said.
Reports from Tuensang said that the cold weather below zero degree Celsius hit several areas with frost formation on the roads.
Most stretches of roads from C. Saddle to Yokor village under Tuensang district was covered with frost. Similar reports also received from many pockets of the district.
Meanwhile, the acute shortage of power throughout Nagaland has also added its share to winter woes.
According to power Department sources Nagaland is now getting 40 to 45 MW against its peak hour requirement of 110 MW in the state.