Dense fog in north India disrupts travel for second consecutive day

North India remained engulfed in a dense fog for the second day, causing significant air and rail travel disruptions while sending temperatures plummeting across the region. The adverse weather has severely impacted visibility, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to forecast persistent foggy conditions until 8 January.

Chaos at airports

Flight operations at major airports, including Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Agra, Lucknow, Amritsar, Hindon, and Gwalior, have been heavily disrupted, with visibility dropping to zero in several locations. At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, over 100 flights were delayed on Saturday morning alone. Airlines have advised passengers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport.

IndiGo issued a statement highlighting "significantly reduced visibility due to fog," while Air India and SpiceJet also acknowledged the operational challenges caused by the adverse weather.

Flight operations at major airports, including Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Agra, Lucknow, Amritsar, Hindon, and Gwalior, have been heavily disrupted, with visibility dropping to zero in several locations.

At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, over 100 flights were delayed on Saturday morning alone. Airlines have advised passengers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport.

Train services affected

Railway services have been equally affected, with over 50 trains heading to Delhi running late. Key routes have faced substantial delays, including the 22436 New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, which is running over four hours behind schedule.

The Varanasi Vande Bharat Express is delayed by an unprecedented 14 hours, and the Anand Vihar Terminal Superfast Express is over seven hours late.

The IMD predicts dense to very dense fog will persist in the national capital, Uttar Pradesh, and isolated areas of Punjab and Haryana. Delhi is expected to experience light rain on 6 January, but the fog will likely linger until January 8.

Saturday morning recorded a temperature of 10°C in Delhi, classifying it as a "cold day" under IMD criteria, where temperatures fall at least 4.5°C below the seasonal norm.

The air quality in Delhi remains a concern, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reporting an Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 240, categorised as "Very Unhealthy."

The blanket of fog has disrupted daily life across northern India, emphasising the need for caution during travel. With temperatures dropping and visibility expected to remain poor, residents and travellers are advised to plan accordingly and stay updated on weather and transportation advisories.