Dense fog engulfs Delhi, nearby cities; visibility drops to zero
What's the story
Delhi and its neighboring regions were engulfed by a thick blanket of dense fog on Wednesday morning, drastically reducing visibility. Palam recorded zero visibility as early as 4:30am. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that this dense fog will be followed by a cloudy sky, with light rain likely during the evening or night.
Transport impact
Fog disrupts flight and train operations in Delhi
The dense fog has also affected transport, with Indira Gandhi International Airport warning of possible delays for CAT III non-compliant flights. "While landings and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information," the Delhi Airport said. So far, at least seven flights have been cancelled, with another 184 delayed, while 26 trains headed for Delhi are running late.
Weather update
Cold wave intensifies across northern India
The cold wave has intensified across northern India, with Ghaziabad also witnessing zero visibility due to thick fog. The IMD said minimum temperatures were "appreciably above normal" in isolated areas of Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh. However, a gradual increase in temperature by 2-3 degrees Celsius is expected over the next three days. Dense fog conditions are likely to persist in parts of West and East Uttar Pradesh till January 18 and in Punjab and UP till January 19.
Pollution update
Delhi's air quality remains poor amid dense fog
Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained poor with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 284 recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board at 9:00am on Wednesday. The IMD has also issued a warning for thunderstorms and hail later in the day as cold waves continue to grip regions like Jammu and Kashmir's winter capital, Srinagar. Meanwhile, parts of Chandigarh experienced light rain, while dense fog also affected Mumbai.