IMD has predicted dense fog in Delhi today, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to range between 17 and 8 degrees Celsius, respectively.
New Delhi: A thick layer of dense fog blanketed Delhi and the adjoining NCR region as a cold wave gripped parts of North India on Friday morning. According to the India Meteorological Department, the capital city recorded 9.6 degrees Celsius at 5:30 am today, with the air quality plunging from ‘poor’ to ‘very poor.’ The weather department has predicted dense fog in Delhi today, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to range between 17 and 8 degrees Celsius, respectively.
#WATCH | Visibility affected as a thick blanket of fog descended over Delhi.
Visuals from Dwarka Expressway. pic.twitter.com/xPwjWHmDZe
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025
Flight, Train Operations Affected
Several airlines, including SpiceJet, Indigo, and Air India, encountered issues leading to flight delays. At Delhi airport, incoming flights were typically delayed by five minutes, and outgoing ones by 11 minutes, as noted by FlightRadar24. SpiceJet mentioned that flights heading to or departing from Amritsar and Guwahati faced disruptions due to bad weather. Meanwhile, IndiGo issued a travel notice, especially pointing out routes impacting Delhi, Amritsar, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Guwahati.
When planning your trips, it’s wise to double-check your flight times, as airlines have warned passengers that flights might be cancelled if visibility is 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
Train services to and from Delhi are running behind schedule due to route adjustments. The India Meteorological Department has issued a warning for dense fog expected to envelop Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Guwahati this Friday. Similar predictions extend to regions in Rajasthan like Kota and Bundi, Punjab’s Amritsar and Gurdaspur, and areas in Haryana such as Kurukshetra and Ambala. Additionally, light rain coupled with snow is anticipated in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
Delhi AQI Today
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI was recorded at 348 in Delhi today at 6 am.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 and 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 and 300 ‘poor,’ 301 and 400 ‘very poor,’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe.’
Meanwhile, as the temperature dips, homeless people in the city increasingly rely on night shelters.
Shelter To Homeless People
The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has also set up 235 pagoda tents to provide shelter to homeless people. Night shelters have been set up in several areas of the national capital, including AIIMS, Lodhi Road, and Nizamuddin flyover.
In response to the chilly weather, residents of the capital were seen gathering around bonfires, while others took shelter in night homes as temperatures continued to drop.
On Friday, North Indian states continued to face harsh winter conditions. Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow, the temperature is recorded at 8 degrees Celsius at 3.30 am. The local administrations have set up temporary shelter homes for the homeless people. UP’s Aligarh people were seen taking refuge in one of these shelters.
In Jammu and Kashmir’s capital Srinagar, the temperature was recorded at -1.3 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am.
Meanwhile, airline carrier Indigo on Thursday issued a travel advisory for its flight operations in Srinagar as the region was experiencing snowfall impacting flight schedules.
“We wish the snowfall could take a brief pause, allowing us to ensure smooth travels for you once again. Stay warm and stay informed,” the airlines stated.
In Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur, the temperature was recorded at 10.2 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am today.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the winter shelter homes set up near Gandhinagar Railway Station here on Thursday night to take stock of the arrangements.
