Drinking alcohol to beat cold in J&K and Punjab can be a bad idea this new year

The Western Disturbance in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will result in “scattered to fairly widespread” snowfall.

In northern India, it will get very cold, and drinking alcohol at home or at year-end parties will not be a good idea, according to the Meteorological Department of India (IMD).

The IMD said ‘extreme’ cold wave is expected over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and northern Rajasthan from December 28 in its latest impact-based advisory, and there is an increased possibility of multiple diseases such as flu, running nose or nosebleed that usually set in or get worse due to prolonged cold exposure.  

 “Don’t drink alcohol. It reduces your body temperature,” read the warning. Get indoors. Eat fruits high in vitamin C and regularly humidify your skin to counter the effects of extreme cold” the warning said.

The head of the regional forecasting center of the IMD, Kuldeep Srivastava, said the mercury would increase marginally on Sunday and Monday under the influence of a fresh Western disorder affecting the upper reaches of the Himalayas, but the relief would be short-lived.

The Western Disturbance in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will result in “scattered to fairly widespread” snowfall.

Cold and dry northerly/northwesterly winds from the western Himalayas will bring the minimum temperature down by three to five degrees Celsius in north India after the wind system withdraws, the IMD said.

“Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and north Rajasthan from December 28-29. Ground frost and dense fog is likely in isolated pockets in the region,” it said.