New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) Flight and rail operations across extensive regions of North India faced interruptions on Sunday morning due to severe fog conditions, which significantly diminished visibility and hindered regular transportation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a yellow alert for the morning hours in Delhi, cautioning about dense fog and cold wave-like conditions affecting the area.

In the morning, air quality in Delhi remained in the 'very poor' category, as various parts of the national capital were enveloped in a thick smog layer. The combined effect of pollution and fog further worsened visibility, exacerbating travel disruptions.

Rail services were severely impacted, with numerous trains running hours behind schedule and some being rerouted.

Flights in several cities, including Delhi, also experienced delays, with the potential for cancellations.

Railway officials reported that over four dozen trains were delayed due to dense fog across northern India. To ensure safety, train speeds have been reduced, causing considerable inconvenience for passengers.

Among the trains most affected were the Prayagraj Express, delayed by approximately five hours; the Rewa-Anand Vihar Express, which was nearly nine hours late; and the New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express, running about four hours behind schedule.

The Brahmaputra Mail was delayed by around 45 minutes, while the Mahabodhi Express and Sampurna Kranti Express faced delays of four to five hours.

Numerous other mail and express trains were also reported to arrive at their destinations hours late.

The adverse weather also affected air traffic operations. Several airlines, such as SpiceJet, Air India, and IndiGo, issued travel advisories for passengers, warning them of possible delays.

Both airlines and railway authorities urged travelers to verify the status of their flights and trains prior to departing for stations or airports.

SpiceJet, in a post on X, stated, "Due to anticipated poor weather (reduced visibility) in Delhi (DEL), Amritsar (ATQ), Jammu (IXJ), Ayodhya (AYJ), Gorakhpur (GOP), Varanasi (VNS), Darbhanga (DBR), Patna (PAT), Guwahati (GAU), and Bagdogra (IXB), all departures and arrivals, along with their consequential flights, may be affected. Passengers are encouraged to check their flight status."

Air India issued a weather-related advisory on social media a day earlier, indicating, "Dense fog with limited visibility is expected for parts of northern India, including cities like Chandigarh, Amritsar, and Varanasi, tomorrow morning. This may impact flight operations to and from these locations."

IndiGo also recommended that passengers stay vigilant and monitor their flight status via official channels before heading to the airport.

In another post on X, the airline noted, "The fog persists over #Hindon (Airport), leading to slower flight movements. Departures and arrivals to and from the city, as well as specific routes across our network, might experience brief delays as we navigate the weather conditions."

The administration of the Delhi Airport also cautioned that flight schedules could be altered due to low visibility. Reports indicated that over ten flights were operating behind schedule at the Delhi airport.