NEW DELHI: Delhi-NCR woke up to a chilly Wednesday morning as dense fog blanketed the city, reducing visibility and disrupting daily life.
The minimum temperature in the capital dropped to 7°C, with foggy skies and biting cold making the morning commute difficult.
Visibility was significantly affected, with several parts of the city reporting dense fog.
The IMD has warned of dense fog in the morning, with improved conditions expected by the afternoon.
The surface winds are expected to predominantly blow from the southeast at a speed of less than 4 kmph during the morning, the IMD has forecast. Dense fog is likely to blanket most areas in the morning, with very dense fog expected in isolated pockets.
Wind speeds are set to pick up to 6-8 kmph from the south by the afternoon, before easing to less than 4 kmph from the northeast in the evening and night. Smog or shallow to moderate fog is expected to prevail during the evening and night hours, the IMD added.
Foggy conditions in the national capital and parts of north India have delayed 26 trains heading to Delhi, according to Indian Railways.
Flight operations at Delhi Airport continue, but authorities have warned that flights not compliant with CAT III standards could face delays. Passengers have been advised to contact airlines for updates.
On Tuesday, Delhi experienced severe fog, with visibility dropping to zero in areas like Palam.
At Safdarjung, visibility hovered at 50 meters for much of the morning. The IMD noted calm winds and high humidity levels—ranging between 80% and 100%—as contributing factors to the dense fog.
The cold conditions caused delays for 39 trains, with some running up to four hours late. The maximum temperature on Tuesday stood at 21.2°C, slightly above normal, while the minimum settled at 8.9°C.
Delhi’s air quality remained in the “poor” category on Tuesday, with a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 275. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noted that poor air quality, combined with fog, could exacerbate health issues for residents, particularly those with respiratory ailments.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered poor, leading to discomfort and breathing problems for sensitive groups.
