Large parts of north India woke up to dense fog on Saturday as cold weather intensified, sharply reducing visibility and disrupting road and air travel across several states, including Delh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said dense fog was reported at most places over Punjab, at a few locations in west Uttar Pradesh, and at isolated places in east Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, leading to low visibility conditions during the early morning hours.
Visibility plunges in Delhi, temperatures dip
In the national capital, dense smog and fog lingered through the morning, with areas such as Akshardham, Sarai Kale Khan, Bhairav Marg and Rao Tula Ram Marg shrouded in a grey haze. IMD data showed that visibility dropped to as low as 200 metres at Safdarjung from 3 am, while Palam recorded visibility of 350 metres from 4 am onwards.
Minimum temperatures in Delhi fell by 1–3 degrees Celsius, settling between 6 and 8 degrees, while maximum temperatures dropped to 18–20 degrees Celsius.
Adding to commuter woes, Delhi’s air quality worsened further, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 384 at 8 am, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Several localities, including Anand Vihar and Chandni Chowk, slipped into the ‘severe’ bracket.
Flights cancelled, advisories issued
Dense fog significantly impacted flight operations. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, a total of 66 arriving and 63 departing flights were cancelled during the day. Low-visibility procedures were implemented to ensure safety.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued a weather advisory, warning that reduced visibility across northern India could lead to delays and disruptions. Passengers were advised to remain in touch with airlines for real-time updates and allow extra time for airport formalities.
Domestic carrier IndiGo also cautioned passengers about possible disruptions on flights to and from Ranchi, Jammu and Hindon due to prevailing weather conditions.
Fog to persist, snowfall likely in hills
IMD warned that dense to very dense fog conditions are likely to persist during night and morning hours over parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar over the coming days. The weather office also forecast rainfall and snowfall over the western Himalayan region, with isolated heavy snowfall expected in Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining areas.
Authorities have urged commuters to exercise caution, especially during early morning travel, as cold and foggy conditions continue to affect northern India.