Ranchi (PTI): Flight operations at Birsa Munda airport here were affected due to dense fog on Thursday, an official said.

No arrival or departure of flights took place till 10.30 am at the airport, while four flights were diverted due to poor visibility, the official said.

"Since morning no arrival or departure of flights has taken place at Ranchi Airport due to poor visibility. All flights are likely to be delayed. Four flights were also diverted," Birsa Munda airport director RR Maurya said.

Ranchi Meteorological Centre in-charge Abhishek Anand told PTI, "The visibility was registered at 300 metres between 8 am and 9 am on Thursday. The minimum visibility requirement for flight landing is 1200 metres."

Apart from fog, Jharkhand is also reeling under a cold wave like situation with Lohardaga coldest place in the state at 3.2 degree Celsius.

Chatra recovered the minimum temperature at 3.6 degree Celsius on Thursday, while Hazaribagh shivered at 3.7 degree Celsius.

Ranchi city recorded 7 degree Celsius, while its outskirts Namkum and Kanke registered 3.7 and 4.2 degree Celsius respectively.

Anand said that the minimum temperature might rise after Friday due to western disturbance in northwest parts of the country.

"The mercury may rise by two to three degree Celsius from February 11 and minimum temperature may again go above 10 degree Celsius in the state," he added.

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Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.

The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.

The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.

“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.

“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.

Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.

Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.

Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.

“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.