Northern India experienced severe disruptions for the second day as dense fog led to reduced visibility and delays in transportation.
Zero visibility was recorded at airports in Srinagar, Chandigarh, Agra, Lucknow, Amritsar, Hindon, and Gwalior.
Delhi gets shrouded in dense fog as cold wave grips the city
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) January 4, 2025
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Travel Delays
Over 360 flights were delayed, 60 were cancelled, and 15 diverted at Delhi Airport this morning. Many airlines also issued travel advisories. IndiGo Airlines in a post said, "Departures and arrivals at Delhi Airport are currently on hold due to reduced visibility. Once operations resume, flights may still encounter delays due to airside congestion."
#6ETravelAdvisory: Departures and arrivals at #DelhiAirport are currently on hold due to reduced visibility. Please stay updated on your flight status https://t.co/IEBbuCsa3e. Once operations resume, flights may still encounter delays due to airside congestion. (1/2)
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 3, 2025
Rail services are also facing significant delays with more than 81 trains running late. The New Delhi Vande Bharat Express was delayed by over four hours, while Varanasi Vande Bharat Express faced a 14-hour delay.
Also read: First meteor shower of 2025: Quadrantids light up the night sky
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted dense fog in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana over the coming days.
Daily Weather Briefing English (03.01.2025)
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) January 3, 2025
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Drop in temperature
Temperatures in Delhi dropped to 10 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning. The fog is likely to persist until January 8. Light rain is expected on January 6. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the "Very Unhealthy" category, exceeding 240.
Also read: North India fog: Flights and trains delayed, IMD issues orange alert amid cold wave
According to IMD guidelines, a "cold day" is declared when minimum temperatures fall below 10 degrees Celsius and deviate by at least 4.5 degrees Celsius from normal levels.
(With inputs from agencies)