North India is experiencing a severe cold wave, with dense fog blanketing parts of Delhi and surrounding regions, leading to widespread disruptions. The fog has caused near-zero visibility in several areas, including Palam Airport, where visibility completely dropped, and Safdarjung Airport, where it was limited to just 50 meters. This has resulted in delays for both flights and trains.
At Delhi’s Palam Airport, while flights continued to operate, several airlines, including SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India, experienced delays ranging from 5 to 11 minutes. The dense fog has also affected flights not compliant with CAT III landing systems, prompting Delhi airport authorities to issue an advisory for passengers to check with airlines for updated flight statuses.
Train services were similarly impacted, with over two dozen trains departing from Delhi delayed due to poor visibility. Notable delays included the Ayodhya Express, which was delayed by four hours, and the Gorakhdham Express, which ran two hours behind schedule.
As the cold wave extends across northern India, cities like Lucknow and Jaipur recorded temperatures of 8°C and 10.2°C, respectively. In Srinagar, the mercury dipped to -1.3°C, accompanied by snowfall that disrupted air travel. To assist the homeless, Delhi’s night shelters have become vital, with 235 pagoda tents providing refuge. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality worsened, with the AQI reaching 348, categorized as “very poor.”
The India Meteorological Department predicts dense fog to persist until January 8, with a slight chance of relief from light rain on January 6. Passengers are advised to stay updated on travel schedule.
