Residents of Delhi and other parts of North India faced intense travel disruptions as dense fog and cold wave conditions lead to the delay and cancellation of over 100 flights and impacted rail operations. The inclement weather has been ongoing since Sunday, plunging visibility at times to zero and resulting in thousands of passengers waiting at both airports and railway stations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a dense layer of fog over the national capital, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and other regions, with no immediate relief expected for the next few days.
The challenging weather conditions have played havoc at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), leading to the cancellation of 53 flights, including both domestic and international routes. Additionally, around 120 flights were delayed due to the low visibility caused by the dense fog. Passengers expressed their difficulties at the airport due to the significant delays and cancellations. Furthermore, the railway services are not faring any better, with approximately 20 trains, such as the Puri-Nizamuddin Purushottam Express and Azamgarh-Delhi Junction Kaifiyat Express, running late due to fog and the accompanying cold wave conditions.
The cold snap saw temperatures dipping to a low of 3.3°C on Monday, with similar mercury readings of 4°C and 3.5°C on the subsequent days. IMD scientists have indicated that foggy mornings and chilly days will continue, although a slight rise in temperature might occur because of sunny skies. Despite this, the cold and fog are likely to persist, diminishing only gradually as a seasonal effect. Compounding the situation, pollution levels soared, with the air quality in some areas entering the ‘severe’ category, prompting the activation of stage-3 pollution control measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).