Trains Delayed, 58 Flights Diverted As Dense Layer Of Fog Reduces Visibility In Delhi

A number of trains were delayed and cancelled as a thick layer of fog continued to reduce the visibility in the national capital. Around 60 flights were also diverted at the IGI Airport due tot he dense fog.

Winter continues to hold Delhi in its clutches firmly. A dense layer of fog covers the skyline of the national capital reducing the visibility. Many trains were delayed and some even got cancelled at the Anand Vihar railway station due to the dense fog, as reported by news agency ANI. Around 60 flights including one that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was travelling in had to be diverted due to low visibility at the Delhi Airport. People were forced to take shelter in shelter homes amid these chilly and foggy nights. The minimum temperature settled on Thursday stood at 8.4 degrees Celsius, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

An official at the Delhi Airport told news agency PTI that 58 flights, the majority of them operated by domestic carriers, had to be diverted owing to the low visibility between 12:00 am on December 25 and 06:00 am on December 28. Most of the flights had to be cancelled as the pilots were not trained to operate them in low visibility conditions. The official added that 13 flights of IndiGo, 10 of Air India, 10 of SpiceJet, 5 of Vistara, 3 of Akasa Air and 2 flights of Alliance Air were diverted at the Delhi Airport. 

Even at 12 am this morning, a dense layer of fog engulfed the national capital.

People stood waiting at the railway station platforms for their trains as some of them got delayed or cancelled. A passenger, Prashant Kumar, told ANI, "The trains are later than usual this time. Nandankanan Express coming to Delhi from Bhubaneswar was supposed to reach at 3.30 pm but it reached Delhi at 12.30 am."

Several trains at Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad Railway Station were also affected due to dense fog.

Dense fog covered the skyline of Ayodhya reducing the visibility on the roads as well. 

The Show Must Go On — Republic Day Parade Rehearsals Amid Dense Fog

The teeth-teetering morning and dense fog could not shake the spirit of the security forces at the India Gate who were doing rehearsals for the upcoming Republic Day Parade which is slated to take place on January 26. ANI shared the visual from the rehearsals this morning.