New Delhi: Around 34 domestic departure flights and over 12 arrival flights are delayed at the Delhi airport as dense fog continues to grip the national capital.






Train services have also been affected due to heavy fog. Passengers at New Delhi station wait in the cold as the trains are delayed.






The national capital continues to see severe cold and blanket fog across the city as temperature continues to dip. Delhi Ridge recorded a minimum temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius while Safdarjung recorded 2.2 degrees Celsius. The Indian Meteorology Department has sounded an orange alert for Delhi due to prevailing winter conditions. 






The visibility in the region was reduced to 50-200 metres due to continuous fog. The maximum temperature is expected to be 18 degrees Celsius hinting towards a chilly Saturday. IMD has also predicted moderate fog throughout the day. 


Heavy fog was witnessed early Saturday morning in the adjoining areas of Akshardham, Mangolpuri, and Paschim Vihar in Delhi. 










On Friday, Delhi recorded one of the lowest temperatures of the season as the mercury dipped to 1.8 degrees Celsius. The grip of the cold wave has only strengthened in the last few days resulting in spine-chilling cold across northern India. 


Amid falling temperatures in Delhi-NCR, the Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed the implementation of curbs under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the region. It includes a ban on non-essential building and demolition activities, in response to a sudden surge in air pollution caused by foggy weather, news agency PTI reported.  


On Friday, Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index was 400, only one notch below the severe category. 


During a review meeting, the GRAP Sub-Committee warned that the AQI is projected to worsen further in the following days due to unfavourable weather conditions. 


It urged authorities in Delhi-NCR to immediately implement limits under Stage III of the anti-pollution plan. 


According to GRAP, if the AQI is likely to reach the severe category, restricting steps under Stage III must be initiated at least three days in advance. 


Stage III curbs include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, as well as the suspension of stone crushers and mining operations in the Delhi-NCR. 


(With Inputs From Ahmad Belal)