Cold Wave Grips North India: Dense Fog Causes Major Disruptions in Delhi and Surrounding Areas

New Delhi: Northern India is experiencing a severe cold wave, with a thick layer of fog reducing visibility to near zero and causing major disruptions in both flight and train operations. The dense fog has continued for a second consecutive day, impacting several states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and others.

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has been severely affected, with over 90 flights delayed this morning alone. The airport issued an advisory urging passengers to check with airlines for updates, as visibility at the airport continues to hover at zero. Other airports, including Srinagar, Chandigarh, Agra, Lucknow, Amritsar, Hindon, and Gwalior, are also reporting zero visibility, causing widespread travel disruptions.

The dense fog has also taken a toll on train services, with over 50 trains bound for Delhi running late. Among the most affected is the New Delhi Vande Bharat Express (22436), delayed by over four hours, while the Varanasi Vande Bharat Express is running 14 hours late. The Anand Vihar Terminal Superfast Express is also facing delays of over seven hours.

Yesterday, more than 200 flights were delayed due to a similar drop in visibility, which had severely impacted operations at IGI Airport. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued dense to very dense fog in Delhi, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, along with an ongoing threat to air and rail travel. The IMD confirmed that visibility at IGI Airport remains at zero this morning.

In response to the weather conditions, major airlines have issued updates. IndiGo warned passengers about reduced visibility affecting flight schedules. Air India acknowledged the poor visibility and highlighted it as a key reason for delays, advising passengers to check with airlines before heading to the airport. Similarly, SpiceJet issued a cautionary note about potential delays for all flights due to the adverse weather conditions in Delhi.

The IMD forecasts that the dense fog will persist in Delhi until January 8, with light rain expected on January 6. The temperature in the capital stood at 10 degrees Celsius this morning, meeting the criteria for a cold day, as the minimum temperature remains below 10°C, and the deviation from the normal temperature is at least 4.5°C lower.