Fog causes traffic snarls, minor accidents on NH-44
A thick blanket of fog enveloped the region early Wednesday morning, bringing visibility to a near standstill after two days of sunny weather. The dense fog disrupted traffic flow on National Highway-44, state highways and district roads, leading to slow movement and several minor accidents. Although no major casualties were reported, the fog has caused challenges for commuters.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a maximum temperature of 20.4°C in Sirsa and has predicted mild to dense fog along the NH-44 belt on Thursday. The dense fog has also led to a drop in the average maximum temperature by 3.4°C.
The fog, which began late Tuesday night, reduced visibility to less than 10 metres in several areas. Commuters on NH-44 reported severe delays and slow-moving traffic. “The visibility was so poor that even headlights couldn’t penetrate the dense fog,” said Sunil Sachdeva, a commuter on the highway.
Another commuter, Ashish Kumar, shared his ordeal: “I was on my way to Delhi, but the dense fog made driving difficult. It took me two hours to cover a distance that usually takes 30 minutes.”
Despite the challenging conditions, local authorities have worked to prevent major mishaps. Traffic police were deployed at key intersections to guide vehicles and ensure smooth traffic flow.
Ganga Ram Punia, Superintendent of Police (SP), Karnal, appealed to drivers to exercise caution. “Fog-related accidents are preventable if drivers follow safety measures. Use fog lights and maintain a safe distance,” the SP advised.
The IMD has urged commuters to plan their travel accordingly as the dense fog is expected to persist, potentially affecting road safety and traffic flow.
