Severe Weather in North India: Flights Cancelled and Trains Delayed Due to Thick Fog
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New Delhi, Jan 3 (NationPress) A thick fog has covered parts of North India, causing a significant drop in visibility and disrupting travel plans across the region. At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, visibility fell to zero, leading to numerous delays and cancellations. Overall, 202 flights experienced delays, while several airlines, including SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India, cancelled services on a variety of routes.
FlightRadar24 indicated an average delay of six minutes for arrivals and approximately 47 minutes for departures.
SpiceJet confirmed that certain routes to Amritsar and Guwahati were affected due to the harsh weather conditions. Additionally, IndiGo issued a travel advisory, outlining impacted routes such as Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Guwahati. Airlines have recommended that passengers continually check their flight schedules, cautioning that cancellations may occur if visibility does not improve.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi's maximum temperature was recorded at 16 degrees Celsius, which is three degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature reached 7.6 degrees Celsius in the past 24 hours.
Friday marked the fifth consecutive cold day for the city, with morning temperatures recorded at 9.6 degrees Celsius. Visibility at Palam Airport dropped to 0 metres at 8 a.m., and Safdarjung Airport reported a visibility of only 50 metres.
Rail services were also severely impacted, with at least 24 trains departing from Delhi experiencing delays. The Ayodhya Express faced a delay of four hours, while the Bihar Kranti Express, Shram Shakti Express, and Gorakhdham Express were delayed by more than two hours.
The IMD has forecasted continued dense fog for Delhi until January 8, with light rain expected on January 6.
Additionally, air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) remains a pressing issue. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 309 at Lodhi Road, categorized as 'Very Poor.'
In Noida, Uttar Pradesh, the air quality was also deemed 'Very Poor' with an AQI of 305, while Greater Noida registered an AQI of 290, placing it in the 'Poor' category.
Travellers are advised to brace for possible delays or cancellations and to stay updated with information from airlines and railway authorities as North India contends with these severe weather conditions.
