A dense blanket of fog has enveloped Delhi-NCR, causing a significant drop to the season’s lowest temperature at 3.5 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted this temperature as a slight dip from the previous days, which saw cold conditions grip the capital. Seven flights were forced to be redirected from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to destinations like Jaipur and Mumbai during the early hours of Sunday. The lack of visibility is believed to be the chief reason behind these diversions.
Trains weren’t spared either, as 22 of them arrived late into Delhi, hampered by the reduced visibility. The IMD warned of very dense fog and cold waves that could persist until January 20. The Palam Observatory recorded zero visibility early in the morning, signifying the season’s most prolonged spell of dense fog. At the same time, the city’s air quality sunk to ‘severe’ with an AQI of 458, ringing alarms for environmental and health concerns.
Delhi faces one of its coldest days as minimum temperatures nosedive across various regions. Aya Nagar, Lodhi Road, Safdarjung, Ridge, and Palam reported temperatures significantly below normal ranges, with Aya Nagar logging in at 3 degrees Celsius. The weather has brought life to a slow pace in Delhi, with 18 Delhi-bound trains delayed, while flight services faced chaotic conditions amidst dense fog. The visibility at Safdarjung Observatory drastically reduced to 200 meters, indicative of the thick fog layers.
Officials have issued weather alerts due to the extreme conditions. A red alert is in place for Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, while a yellow alert covers Rajasthan, cautioning residents about the severe cold and fog. Despite these warnings, the cold wave in the capital is expected to linger, with a yellow alert extending over the coming three days in Delhi. Temperature forecasting suggests a bleak and chilly outlook, with maximal temperature predictions hovering around 19 degrees Celsius.
Visibility issues are not confined to Delhi, as parts of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, amongst others, also report dense to very dense fog. The weather has also triggered an advisory from the IMD for the public to curtail non-essential travel and to be vigilant when driving in compromised visibility conditions.