Dense fog disrupts flight, train services

New Delhi/Chandigarh, December 22

The minimum temperature today plunged to 4.2 degrees Celsius in the national Capital, the coldest December 22 in the last five years and also the lowest this season, even as a thick blanket of fog disrupted normal life in the city and hit flight and train operations.

According to the MeT department, the minimum temperature of 4.2 degrees Celsius was four notches below normal.

Yesterday, the morning temperature had settled two points below the season’s average at 6.4 degrees Celsius.

Dense fog enveloped the Capital this morning, with visibility dropping to zero in the early hours. However, visibility improved to 150 metres by 9 am.

Low visibility hit flight and train operations. Nearly two dozen flights were affected as dense fog stalled operations at the airport here this morning—the first major disruption this winter season.

Sixteen departures were delayed due to drop in visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, an airport spokesperson said.

Several incoming and outgoing trains too were running late.

Around 70 North-bound trains, including the Rajdhani trains coming from Bhubaneswar, Sealdah and Ranchi, were running late by about three to four hours, while the service of other Delhi-bound trains are also being severely affected due to adverse weather, said a senior Northern Railway official.

The Magadh Express is running 18 hours late, while the Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express is behind schedule by 18 hours.

The Northeast Express and the Mahananda Express are running 12 hours late.

“We have made arrangements for informing passengers about the train position on regular basis besides setting up helplines for public,” said the official, adding that “departures of affected trains have been rescheduled.” 

Traffic moved slowly due to foggy conditions but there were no major traffic jams, said a senior traffic police official.

Train drivers have been instructed to drive at a slow speed during the foggy condition.

Weatherman said that things will improve by the afternoon. The day temperature may settle around 14 degree Celsius.

Meanwhile, cCold weather conditions continued to prevail at most places in Punjab and Haryana on Monday, where fog threw normal life out of gear.

Karnal in Haryana was the coldest place in the state recording a minimum temperature of 3.6 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal.

Hisar also reeled under cold conditions recording a low of 5.6 deg C, one notch below normal, while biting cold also prevailed at Narnaul, where the low settled at 4 deg C, down two notches.

Ambala also experienced a cold night at 5.8 deg C, the MeT Department said.

Chandigarh’s night temperature settled at 7.6 deg C.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a low of 5.4 deg C, while Patiala’s minimum settled at 5.8 deg C, down two notches.

Ludhiana’s minimum settled at 7.8 deg C.

Fog continued to disrupt normal life in Punjab and Haryana.

During the past few days, reduced visibility levels due to fog has adversely hit air, rail and road traffic in the region. — PTI