North India is in the grip of cold wave these days. In the last few days, cold has increased in many areas of Punjab, Haryana and UP. According to meteorologists, the cold weather is likely to subside for the next few days. The states and union territories of North India are also witnessing severe cold. According to the Meteorological Department, the freshly active Western Disturbance is likely to affect Northwest India from January 21.

According to Skymet Weather, dense to very dense fog may occur over parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and North Madhya Pradesh today. Cold day conditions are likely to prevail over parts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Light to moderate rain and light snowfall may occur over isolated parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Light rain is possible at isolated places over Northeast India, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Meteorological department alert for these states

According to the Meteorological Department, a new Western Disturbance is active over North India from January 21. Its effect will be mild, but due to this, there is a possibility of rain in Delhi on January 21, 22 and 23. However, the minimum temperature will remain 2-4 degrees above normal in North India. While issuing a warning, the Meteorological Department said that cold wave conditions will continue in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for the next two days. For the past few days, severe cold is continuing in these places.

Heavy snow and rain likely in Himachal Pradesh

Due to the active western disturbance in Himachal Pradesh, there is a possibility of rain and snow at most places on January 21 and 22. On Wednesday, there is a possibility of dense fog in Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur in the morning and evening. Snow can also occur in higher areas on this day. Due to sunshine on Tuesday, an increase of about five to seven degrees has been recorded in the maximum temperature. Due to strong sunshine for a day, temperature has been recorded in seven districts more than Una. The temperature remained low in Una due to fog. Una recorded a maximum temperature of 15.7 degrees Celsius, while Dharamsala, Sundernagar, Bhuntar, Solan recorded a temperature of 20 and above.

Panaji. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the pastor, who was arrested recently for allegedly luring people to convert to Christianity in the state, already has several cases, including one related to the death of a person. Talking to reporters on Saturday, Sawant said that the state government fully respects the right to religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution, but there will be no tolerance for forcing people to convert with the lure of money or other things.

Dominic D'Souza, a pastor operating in North Goa's Saligao, about 20 km from the capital Panaji, and his wife Joan were arrested on Thursday after two people filed separate complaints, a police official said. In these complaints, it was alleged that both were involved in conversion. The official had said that the pastor and his wife were allegedly motivating people to convert to Christianity by offering money or luring them to get treatment for the disease.

Sawant said that earlier also the cases of forced conversions allegedly by D'Souza had come to the notice of the police. He said a case was also registered against the pastor in connection with the death of a man, to whom he allegedly applied "miraculous oil". Sawant said that action has been taken against the priest as per law and the investigation will continue. The police have also booked the priest and his wife under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and indulging in willful and malicious acts with intent to outrage religious sentiments, besides drugs and miracles. A case has been registered under the provisions of the Remedy (Objectionable Advertisement) Act.