New Delhi:
A thick blanket of dense fog has enveloped North India, causing significant disruptions to both flight and train operations. The capital city, Delhi, has been particularly hard hit, with over 200 flights delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport due to zero visibility. This marks the fifth consecutive cold day for Delhi, with temperatures plummeting to 9.6 degrees Celsius on Friday morning.
Widespread Impact of Dense Fog
The dense fog has reduced visibility to zero in several parts of North India, affecting major cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Guwahati. At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the fog led to the delay of 202 flights, highlighting the severe impact on air travel. The airport authorities have warned that flights not compliant with CAT III standards may face further disruptions.
Delhi’s temperature readings over the past 24 hours have been stark, with a maximum of 16 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 7.6 degrees Celsius, both significantly below normal. The current temperature of 9.6 degrees Celsius on Friday morning underscores the ongoing cold wave.
Visibility at Delhi’s airports was almost non-existent, with Palam airport reporting zero-meter visibility and Safdarjung Airport reporting a mere 50-meter visibility. The Air Quality Index in Delhi has also deteriorated, categorized as ‘Very Poor’ at 309 at the Lodhi Road station.
Airline and Train Disruptions
Flights operated by SpiceJet, Indigo, and Air India were among those affected, with average delays of six minutes for arrival flights and 47 minutes for departure flights. Both SpiceJet and Indigo issued travel advisories, cautioning passengers about potential delays and cancellations on routes to and from Amritsar, Guwahati, Delhi, Lucknow, and Bengaluru.
Train operations were also severely impacted, with at least 24 trains departing from and arriving in Delhi running late. Notable delays included the Ayodhya Express by four hours, the Gorakhdham Express by over two hours, and the Bihar Kranti Express and Shram Shakti Express by over three hours each.
Meteorological Warnings and Regional Impact
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Nowcast warning for dense to very dense fog in several regions, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. This warning indicates that the foggy conditions are likely to persist. Additionally, light rain and snow are expected in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
In response to the cold wave, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has suspended classes in all schools until further notice, with the Met predicting a low of 8 degrees Celsius on Friday.
