The national capital region of Delhi woke up to dense to very dense fog on Saturday morning, severely impacting visibility and disrupting the movement of flights and trains. Over 80 flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport till 8:30 am, with several Delhi-bound trains experiencing delays.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a “cold-day” alert, forecasting that dense to very dense fog conditions will persist in most areas over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi until the morning of December 31. Some pockets are expected to experience these conditions for the subsequent three days.
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Impact on Transportation:
The adverse weather conditions have significantly impacted transportation, causing delays and disruptions. The low visibility conditions at IGI Airport led to delays in both arrivals and departures, affecting approximately 80 flights. Trains to and from Delhi also experienced delays, adding to the inconvenience for commuters.
IMD’s Cold-Day Alert:
The IMD has issued a specific alert for “cold-day” conditions in Delhi-NCR for the next two days. The forecast suggests that these conditions are likely to prevail in some to many parts of the region on December 30 and 31. The minimum temperatures across various northern states, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, and Jharkhand, range from 7 to 14 degrees Celsius.
Minister of Civil Aviation’s Response:
Addressing the situation, Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that measures are being implemented to address the fog-related challenges in Delhi and the northern part of the country. In an interview with news agency PTI, Scindia emphasized that this year’s fog density has been more intense than usual and described it as a transitory phenomenon.
Scindia highlighted ongoing coordination efforts with airlines to ensure that pilots are equipped with CAT II and CAT III training to operate flights in low visibility conditions. CAT II and III refer to specific requirements for the operation of flights during foggy hours, aiming to alleviate congestion and enhance safety.
Also read: IMD ISSUES RED ALERT FOR DENSE FOG IN NORTH INDIA
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