Patna, Jan. 12: Cold Bihar has become colder in the past 24 hours. Three places, including Dehri-on-Sone, Chhapra and Forbesganj, witnessed severe cold conditions today with the mercury slipping more than 6°C below normal. The capital shivered, registering a minimum temperature of 3.7°C.

Dehri-on-Sone recorded a minimum of 4.2°C and Chhapra 4.3°C. Forbesganj’s minimum temperature was 6°C.

Gaya was the coldest place in Bihar on Wednesday with the mercury dipping to 3.1°C. The other places reeling under the cold wave were Purnea (4.3°C), Sabour (3.2°C) and Supaul (4.6°C).

Weathermen predicted more or less similar weather condition for Thursday.

“One or two pockets in Bihar will face severe cold wave conditions on Thursday,” said Balmukund Choudhary, the assistant meteorologist of Patna Met office.

Citing reasons for the drop in the minimum temperature at several places in Bihar, Choudhary said the clear sky allowed the radiation to go back to the upper level of the atmosphere. Thus, the level of minimum temperature went down, he said.

Besides the drop in the minimum temperature, many places in Bihar witnessed cold day condition with the maximum temperature going below 16°C. Bhagalpur (14.4°C), Purnea (15.8°C), Bhojpur (15.6°C), Jehanabad (15°C), Harnaut (15.5°C), Jamui (15.2°C), Katihar (15.1°C), Munger (15.6°C), Muzaffarpur (15.9°C), Siwan (14.7°C) and Vaishali (15.6°C) experienced cold day condition today.

Sharing information about the advancement of the western disturbance likely to hit Bihar on Friday, Choudhary said it was hovering over Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday. If favourable conditions persist, it would reach Bihar in the next two days, he added.

The arrival of the western disturbance is likely to give some respite to Bihar residents shuddering in cold.