The popular hill station of Ooty in Tamil Nadu witnessed an intense cold spell as temperatures dropped to –1 degree Celsius in the Thalaikundha region, marking one of the coldest days of the season in the Nilgiris district.
According to a report by ANI, frost conditions have strengthened over the past ten days, affecting daily life and mobility in several parts of the district. While Thalaikundha recorded the lowest temperature, other areas saw temperatures hover around –0.1 degree Celsius.
Heavy frost formation was reported in locations including the Ooty Government Botanical Garden, Kanthal, and the Thalaikundha–Avalanche stretch. Vehicles were seen coated with ice, and frozen grasslands reflected the severity of the cold wave.
Despite the biting cold, tourist inflow has remained strong. Thousands of visitors from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka continued to arrive in the region to experience the rare frost conditions. Some tourists were seen playing with ice deposits, while others captured visuals of the frozen landscape.
However, the Forest Department imposed restrictions on tourist movement near the Kamaraj Sagar Dam, citing safety concerns due to icy terrain and low visibility. The ban prevented visitors from accessing the plains surrounding the dam, a popular scenic location.
Tourists who gathered in the Thalaikundha area early in the morning were forced to observe the frost-covered surroundings from a distance, with many standing along roadsides to take photographs.
One visitor told ANI that the cold was “totally freezing,” adding that temperatures made it difficult to even speak. He described the area as stunning and said several hundred tourists had gathered despite the harsh weather.
Authorities have advised caution for both residents and tourists as frost conditions persist, warning that travel may remain difficult in the coming days if temperatures continue to stay below normal.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
