National Desk, 27th December: The bustling capital of India found itself veiled in a thick cloak of dense fog, causing significant disruptions to both flight and train services.
With visibility reduced to a mere 50 meters in some areas, travelers and city residents faced challenging conditions for the second consecutive day. The adverse weather conditions impacted daily commutes and travel plans, leading to delays affecting approximately 110 flights at Delhi Airport, including both domestic and international arrivals and departures, as reported by the Flight Information Display System (FIDS).
In addition to aviation disruptions, around 14 trains traversing North India experienced delays due to the foggy conditions. The weather department characterized the fog as “very dense,” with temperatures hovering around 9 degrees Celsius in the city. The Central Pollution Control Board’s data indicated a morning air quality index of 376 in New Delhi, categorizing it as “very poor” and raising concerns about potential health impacts on the city’s 20 million residents.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport authorities communicated via social media that while landings and takeoffs continued, flights without CAT III navigation systems might be affected. Airlines, including SpiceJet, issued warnings to passengers about possible delays due to the inclement weather.
The dense fog wasn’t confined to Delhi alone; it also enveloped other parts of North India, affecting regions like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, where temperatures ranged between 6 to 10 degrees Celsius. Visibility readings at various weather stations, such as Safdarjung and Palam, reflected the severity of the fog, emphasizing the challenging conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted mainly clear skies but warned of dense to very dense fog in the mornings for the upcoming days. With humidity levels fluctuating between 59% and 100%, the minimum temperature recorded was 7 degrees Celsius, slightly below normal.
This severe weather event underscored the challenges posed by natural phenomena on urban infrastructure and emphasized the importance of preparedness in minimizing disruptions to daily life.
Read More: Ammonia gas leak detected in sub-sea pipe in Tamil Nadu’s Ennore