New Delhi:
Dense fog enveloped several parts of northern India, causing visibility and temperatures to drop and affecting train and flight operations.
According to IMD data for the last 24 hours, Delhi witnessed a high of 16 degrees Celsius, a departure of three degrees below normal and a low of 7.6 degrees Celsius. Delhi is expected to be foggy till January 8, with light rain likely on January 6. The temperature in Delhi was 9.6 degrees Celsius on Friday morning, making it the fifth cold day in a row for the national capital.
According to the CPCB, the air quality index at Lodhi Road station stands at 309, categorized as 'very poor'.
#WATCH | Delhi: Dense fog engulfs the national capital as a cold wave grips the city.
(Images of Akshardham) pic.twitter.com/ePXNPWLPGO
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025
Flights of many airlines, including SpiceJet, Indigo and Air India, were affected even as Delhi airport reported an average delay of five minutes for arrival flights and 11 minutes for departure flights, according to FlightRadar24.
While SpiceJet said all flights coming and going to Amritsar and Guwahati will be affected by bad weather, IndiGo has issued a travel advisory with a special focus on the Delhi, Amritsar, Lucknow, Bengaluru and Guwahati routes.
Airlines urged travelers to check flight schedules when planning their trip, and also warned that flights could be canceled if visibility remains poor.
Update issued at 6:35 am.
Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #MistAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/IAEHvyua0w— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 3, 2025
Meanwhile, trains departing from and arriving in Delhi are also delayed, while some routes are being operated with modified timings.
Dense fog is expected to remain over Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar and Guwahati on Friday. The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Nowcast warning for dense to very dense fog has been issued for Delhi, Rajasthan's Kota, Bundi, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Sri Ganganagar and Tonk, Punjab's Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Kapurthala, and Haryana's Kurukshetra, Amabal, Panchkula and Yamunanagar. Meanwhile, light rain and snow is expected in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
#WATCH | Delhi | People are taking the help of a bonfire to keep themselves warm as the mercury dips in the national capital.
(Images from Lodhi Road) pic.twitter.com/wBdXno8IkK
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025
A 'cold day' is when the minimum temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius and the highest or lowest temperature is at least 4.5 degrees lower than what is considered normal for a given period.
Amid the cold wave, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration ordered suspension of classes till 8 am in all schools of the district until further notice. The MET predicts a minimum of 8 degrees Celsius on Friday.