The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert due to cold and dense fog conditions, as Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced the coldest night for a second consecutive day this winter, with the minimum temperature dropping to three degrees Celsius.
The IMD recorded the lowest temperature of three degrees Celsius in Aya Nagar, the last village on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road in Delhi, on this morning. This follows the recording of a minimum temperature of 3.9 degrees Celsius on Friday night, three degrees below the seasonal average.
Over 100 flights to and from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, along with 18 Delhi-bound trains, have faced delays due to “dense and very dense fog” in Delhi and various parts of the country on Friday morning. The IMD has issued a “Yellow” alert for Saturday and Sunday, indicating dense fog conditions.
“Cold” to “severe cold day” conditions persist in many places over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan due to very dense fog, severely impacting normal life. Additionally, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are also experiencing isolated instances of dense fog, posing challenges for residents.
Delhi continues to face a relentless cold wave on Saturday morning, accompanied by thick fog disrupting daily life for residents and commuters. Small groups are seen huddling around bonfires in streets and public spaces to combat the bone-chilling temperatures.
An IndiGo flight from Mumbai bound for Guwahati was forced to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Friday night due to low visibility caused by dense fog at the Guwahati airport.
Despite the severe weather conditions, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 365 at 9 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The IMD has issued a red alert in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, while a yellow alert has been issued in Rajasthan, all in consideration of the cold and foggy conditions.
