New Delhi, Jan. 14 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday forecast rain across most of North India and Lakshadweep from 16 January, as a fresh western disturbance hits the Himalayan region.

Relief from the historic chill is expected after 48 hours, although IMD warns that cold wave conditions will persist across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha until then.

Additionally, dense fog is expected to persist over Northwest India and Bihar for the next five to six days.

While snowfall is expected in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh during 16-20 January; Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh may experience isola...