Evening? No, this is Hardinge Park area during late afternoon on Thursday. Shallow clouds owing to moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea brought about day-cold conditions in Patna.

The cloud cover prevented solar rays from warming the lower layers of the atmosphere. As a result, the maximum temperature was 18.5° C, five notches below normal. Cold westerly winds - blowing at 6-8kmph according to the Met department - led to wind-chill conditions, adding to the residents' woes.

Patna meteorological centre director Ashish Sen said the cloud cover is likely to clear by Friday afternoon. 'The anti-cyclonic circulation over central India, extending up to Bihar, is expected to neutralise in the state by Friday afternoon. The minimum temperature tomorrow is expected to be around 12°C and the maximum around 24°C,' said Sen. Text by Piyush Kumar Tripathi, picture by Ashok Sinha