Severe Fog in North India Disrupts Flights and Trains, Visibility Hits Zero in Delhi
Severe Fog Disrupts Transport Across North India: A blanket of dense fog has caused significant disruptions in parts of North India, impacting both air and rail travel. In the national capital, visibility dropped to zero at the Palam airport on Friday morning, while Safdarjung Airport reported visibility of just 50 meters. The extreme weather conditions have led to delays in 202 flights at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, affecting several airlines, including SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India.
#WATCH | Delhi: Dense fog engulfs the national capital as cold wave grips the city.
(Visuals from Akshardham) pic.twitter.com/ePXNPWLPGO
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025
Update issued at 06:35 hours.
Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #FogAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/IAEHvyua0w— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 3, 2025
Flight Operations Severely Impacted
Flight operations in Delhi faced severe challenges due to the poor visibility caused by the dense fog. According to FlightRadar24, arrival flights experienced an average delay of six minutes, while departures were delayed by an average of 47 minutes. Airlines such as SpiceJet reported that flights to and from Amritsar and Guwahati were severely impacted, while IndiGo issued a travel advisory for passengers traveling on routes including Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Guwahati.
Airlines advised travelers to stay updated on flight schedules and warned that cancellations could occur if visibility remains poor.
#WATCH | Delhi: Several trains delayed at New Delhi railway station due to fog as coldwave grips the city.
(Visuals from New Delhi Railway station) pic.twitter.com/NucZl6ZCGQ
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025
Trains Delayed Across Key Routes
Train operations were also severely disrupted. At least 24 trains departing from Delhi faced delays due to weather-related conditions. Among these, the Ayodhya Express was delayed by four hours, the Gorakhdham Express by more than two hours, and the Bihar Kranti Express and Shram Shakti Express were each delayed by over three hours. Some routes were forced to operate with adjusted timings.
Weather Conditions Persist Across North India
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that dense to very dense fog will persist in Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Guwahati through the day. A Nowcast warning was also issued for areas in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana, including cities such as Kota, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Kurukshetra. Meanwhile, light rain and snowfall are expected in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
In Delhi, the IMD reported a maximum temperature of 16°C on Thursday, which is three degrees below normal. The minimum temperature stood at 7.6°C. Friday marked the fifth consecutive cold day in the capital, with the temperature recorded at 9.6°C in the morning.
Air Quality Remains Very Poor
Adding to the challenges posed by the weather, Delhi’s air quality remains in the “Very Poor” category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) at Lodhi Road was recorded at 309, highlighting the ongoing environmental concerns.
In light of the cold wave conditions, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration in Uttar Pradesh has ordered the suspension of classes up to Grade 8 in all schools until further notice. The IMD predicts a low of 8°C in the region on Friday.
A “cold day,” as defined by meteorologists, occurs when the maximum temperature is at least 4.5°C lower than normal and the minimum temperature is under 10°C
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