New Delhi: Delhi faced significant disruptions on Tuesday morning as a dense layer of fog enveloped the city, compounding the ongoing cold wave conditions. The minimum temperature dipped to 3.5 degrees Celsius, marking a four-notch departure from the season’s average.
Persisting for the past four days, the minimum temperature has hovered between 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, and the cold wave is expected to persist until Wednesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The forecast indicates a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius and a maximum hovering around 21 degrees Celsius.
An orange alert for very dense fog has been issued by the IMD, causing delays and cancellations in both air and land traffic. More than 70 flights have been delayed, and some reported cancellations. An advisory for travelers has been issued, urging them to contact airlines for updated flight information, particularly for non-CAT III compliant flights.
Rail traffic has also been impacted, with 30 trains experiencing delays, some exceeding six hours. Visibility at Palam Airport was reported at 100 meters at 7 a.m., dropping to 00 meters half an hour later, while Safdarjung Airport recorded 50 meters visibility.
The air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘very poor’ category, with PM2.5 levels in the ‘severe’ category at various stations, including Anand Vihar (424) and IGI Airport T3 (420). PM10 levels reached 245 (‘poor’) at Anand Vihar and 375 (‘very poor’) at IGI Airport T3, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).