New Delhi:
A blanket of fog continued to blanket parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) this morning, reducing visibility and affecting air and train operations for the third day in a row.
More than 160 flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were affected, with more than 155 delays reported for aircraft not equipped with advanced CAT III navigation systems. At least eight flights have been canceled so far, officials said.
General visibility at the airport was zero at 7:30 am.
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) reassured travelers in an update around 7am that landing and take-off were underway, but warned that non-CAT III compliant flights could face delays.
Update issued at 6:55 am.
Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #MistAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/g67ls6Eweg— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 5, 2025
More than 50 trains have been delayed by an average of four to six hours in the national capital due to near-zero visibility. The Railways has urged passengers to travel only after checking the status of their train.
#WATCH | Delhi: As cold waves grip the national capital, several trains are running late at New Delhi railway station due to fog
(Images from New Delhi Railway Station) pic.twitter.com/eGD8SnaIsC
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2025
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for dense fog during the morning hours, warning of reduced visibility in the city.
Delhi is experiencing the longest zero visibility period of the season
Earlier Saturday, dense fog enveloped the national capital, reducing visibility to zero for an unprecedented stretch of nine hours, the longest period of the season. According to the IMD, the city's main weather station Safdarjung recorded no visibility for eight hours.
According to officials, this also led to the delay of 81 trains, while 15 flights were diverted.
The maximum temperature in the city was 20 degrees Celsius, 0.7 degrees above average, and the minimum temperature was recorded at 7.8 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees above normal, the IMD said.
The air quality also remained in the 'very poor' category this morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI was 377.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor' and 401 and 500 'severe'.