Vizag Agency shivers at 8.4° Celsius, lowest in the season

Visakhapatnam: The Agency areas of Visakhapatnam were in for cold weather as Mercury levels dropped to 8.4°Celsius on Friday, the lowest this winter. Meanwhile, cold conditions prevailed in north coastal Andhra and weather experts say temperatures may drop further.

According to reports, the Agency areas were enveloped in thick fog till 9 a.m on Friday and people were seen driving cautiously on the ghat roads. The sun is setting early these days, driving people indoors by 6 p.m.

The elderly and the children are having a tough time. Fires are being lit in front of every home in the villages to keep the elderly warm.

While the villagers are having a tough time beating the cold, people in the urban areas are making a beeline to the Agency areas, particularly Lamasingi and Tajangi - the coldest places in the state.

Officials of the Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) at Chintapalle in Vizag Agency said Chintapalle recorded the lowest of 1.5°Celsius in 2019 and 4.5°Celsius in 2020. They predicted the temperature could fall as the region had an extended southwest monsoon and received good rains thereafter due to the northeast monsoons.

Tour operators are expecting a good crowd from West Bengal, Hyderabad, and other parts of the state.