Dense Fog Disrupts Flights and Trains as Visibility Drops

Thick fog blanketed several regions of North India, significantly reducing visibility and temperatures, which in turn disrupted train and flight operations. According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) over the past 24 hours, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 16°C, three degrees below the seasonal average, and a minimum of 7.6°C. The city is expected to experience foggy conditions until 8th January, with light rain anticipated on 6th January. On Friday morning, Delhi’s temperature was recorded at 9.6°C, marking the fifth consecutive cold day in the National Capital.

At 8:00 am, visibility at Delhi’s Palam Airport dropped to zero metres, while Safdarjung Airport reported a visibility of just 50 metres. Both airports, however, are not utilised for commercial flight operations. The air quality in Delhi remains concerning, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 309 at the Lodhi Road station, categorised as ‘Very Poor’.

Flight operations across several airlines, including SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India, were disrupted. According to FlightRadar24, the average delay for incoming flights at Delhi Airport was six minutes, while departing flights faced delays of up to 47 minutes. SpiceJet announced that flights to and from Amritsar and Guwahati were affected due to adverse weather, while IndiGo issued a travel advisory focusing on routes to Delhi, Amritsar, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Guwahati. Airlines have advised passengers to verify flight schedules before travelling and warned that cancellations might occur if visibility remains low. Train services were also severely impacted, with at least 24 trains departing from Delhi delayed due to weather conditions. Among the worst-affected were the Ayodhya Express, delayed by four hours; the Gorakhdham Express, running over two hours late; and the Bihar Kranti Express and Shram Shakti Express, each delayed by more than three hours.

Dense fog is expected to persist in Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Guwahati on Friday. The IMD has issued a Nowcast warning for dense to very dense fog in Delhi and various regions, including Kota, Bundi, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Sri Ganganagar, and Tonk in Rajasthan; Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Kapurthala in Punjab; and Kurukshetra, Ambala, Panchkula, and Yamunanagar in Haryana. Meanwhile, parts of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh may witness light rain and snowfall. The IMD defines a “cold day” as one where the minimum temperature is below 10°C, and the maximum temperature is at least 4.5°C below the average for the season. Amid the ongoing cold wave, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has suspended classes for students up to Year 8 in all schools within the district until further notice. For Friday, the Met Department has forecasted a low of 8°C.

Also Read: Delhi Air Quality the worst in the nation two days straight

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple Agencies