Chandigarh, Jan. 1 -- In a stark contrast to the surplus rainfall recorded in previous year, Chandigarh has experienced its driest December in a decade, concluding the year with a total of 0 mm rainfall. According to the monthly weather report released by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the city faced a staggering 100% rain deficit against the normal average of 15.6 mm. This is a significant departure from last year, when the city recorded a healthy 40.5 mm of rain during the same period. This dry spell was not isolated to the "City Beautiful"; neighbouring Punjab and Haryana also recorded zero rainfall for the entire month, reflecting a broader regional drought-like condition for the winter season. However, the New Year is expected to bring a much-anticipated change in weather patterns. The IMD has forecasted a "wet" start to 2026, with light to moderate rain expected to begin late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. This precipitation, originating from western Punjab and moving toward Chandigarh and parts of Haryana, is anticipated to provide significant relief from the relentless foggy conditions that have paralysed the region for weeks. December 2025 remained notably colder than the previous year, though it lacked the record-breaking peaks of the past. The highest maximum temperature this month touched 26.2degC, compared to 28.6degC last year-which was the highest in 15 years. The minimum temperature plummeted to its lowest point of 5.4degC on December 3, marking a 2.6-degree departure from the seasonal average. On Wednesday, the city witnessed a sharp fall in daytime heat, with the maximum temperature dropping by 3.2 degrees in just 24 hours to settle at 15.2degC-a steep 4.6-degree departure from the normal. The minimum temperature remained relatively stable at 8.4degC. IMD director Surender Paul noted that while temperatures may rise slightly in the next 48 hours, the relief from fog will be short-lived. Following the rain, the weather is expected to return to a dry and cloudy state, with foggy conditions potentially persisting for another week or two. The atmospheric stagnation has also severely impacted the region's air quality. Both Chandigarh and Panchkula reported "Poor" air quality levels on Wednesday. While Panchkula's AQI saw a sharp improvement from Tuesday's "Very Poor" level of 399 to 274, the air remains unhealthy for sensitive groups. The CPCB identified PM2.5 as the primary pollutant, causing the city to remain under an "orange" alert. This indicates that the air poses a risk to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues. A thick, relentless blanket of fog across northern India continued to cripple rail operations on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the Chandigarh Railway Station. Visibility dropped so low in certain sections that loco-pilots were forced to navigate at restricted speeds for safety, leading to cascading delays across the network. The SNSI Kalka Express from Sainagar Shirdi was the most severely affected, arriving nearly five hours late at 4:14 pm. The Kerala Sampark Kranti Express followed a similar trend, trailing its schedule by nearly four hours. Even premium services were not immune; the Vande Bharat Express from Delhi arrived over an hour behind schedule, while the Unchahar Express faced such significant hurdles that it was expected to reach only on Thursday with a delay exceeding five hours. Authorities have urged passengers to check live statuses, as further rescheduling remains likely....