50 Flights, 36 Trains Delayed As Dense Fog Covers Delhi. Temperature Plummets To 6.4°C

36 trains are running late in the Northern Railway region. Around 40 flights have been delayed at Delhi airport due to weather conditions.

New Delhi: In the wake of dense fog in Delhi around 36 trains are running late in the Northern Railway region, as reported by the news agency ANI. Some flights (Delhi-Kathmandu, Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Shimla, Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Chandigarh-Kullu) are delayed due to fog in the national capital. Several trains in north India were delayed due to fog. "I am going to Gorakhpur. My train is running late by 4-4.5 hours due to fog," ANI quoted a passenger as saying.

Around 40 flights have been delayed at Delhi airport due to weather conditions. There was no flight diversion reported till 7 AM, ANI reported citing sources. The departure of around 50 domestic flights was delayed due to inclement weather at Delhi airport; 18 arrival flights (domestic) were also delayed.

According India Meteorological Department, amid a cold wave prevailing in parts of northern India, Safdarjung in Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 6.4°C, Palam recorded a minimum temperature of 7.5°C till 8.30am. Visibility in Palam area recorded at 50 metres and Safdarjung at 200 metres.

Besides the severe fog, Delhi also continues to reel under worsening air pollution as AQI plunges into the 'Severe' category with an overall AQI of 418. Delhi government yesterday imposed a temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital till January 12.

Earlier on Monday, around 15 flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital, which was enveloped in dense fog in the morning. According to a morning update of the India Meteorological Department, visibility in Delhi's Safdarjung area was recorded at 25 metres and Palam at 50 metres at around 6 am today. The thick layer of fog led to decreased visibility. Around 15 flights have been delayed at the IGIA due to ongoing weather conditions, said an official at Delhi airport.

"Flights were delayed due to severe fog in the national capital. Visuals from Delhi Airport. Visibility is very low at the airport and the weather here is freezing," passengers at Delhi airport told ANI. Just past midnight, the IGIA issued a statement saying: "Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi airport...Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight reactions."

Vehicles were seen with their headlights on during the morning hours. Severe cold wave conditions continued to prevail in Delhi and adjoining areas. People were seen around gas stations and on street corners huddled around large bonfires to beat the cold. "Visibility recorded at 5:30 am today in Bhatinda-0 metres, Amritsar-25 and Ambala-25 metres each, Hissar-50 metres, Delhi (Safdarjung)-25 metres, Delhi (Palam)-50 metres; Uttar Pradesh: Agra-0 metre, Lucknow (Amausi)-0 metres, Varanasi (Babatpur)-25 metres, Bareilly-50 metres," according to IMD.

(With ANI Inputs)