In a significant development, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the dense fog in north India. that has enveloped key regions of north India, causing widespread disruptions in travel and daily life. The affected areas include Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, where visibility has plummeted to alarming levels.
The IMD took to the social media platform X to issue a stern warning, stating, “Dense Fog Advisory for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan, and north Madhya Pradesh: Be cautious while driving or engaging in any outdoor activities. Utilize fog lights while driving and stay informed about your journey schedule with airlines, railways, and state transport.”
As the capital city, Delhi grapples with an enveloping fog, over a hundred flights encountered delays due to diminished visibility. The Delhi airport reported a staggering 134 domestic and international flights delayed on Thursday (Dec 28), with 35 international departures and 28 international arrivals affected. The travel chaos continued into Friday (Dec 29), with 43 domestic departures and 28 domestic arrivals experiencing delays. Commuters at the New Delhi Railway Station also faced hardships as 22 trains were delayed, leaving passengers stranded in the harsh cold.
Despite a marginal improvement in Delhi’s air quality on Friday (Dec 29), registering an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 356, it lingered in the “very poor” category for the subsequent two days. Kuldeep Srivastava, a scientist with the IMD, explained the temporary relief on Thursday, attributing it to overnight winds dispersing the fog. However, he cautioned that on Friday, the wind speed was expected to drop, leading to a resurgence of dense fog.
Srivastava emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “We have issued the red warning for Friday, indicating that the time between 4 am to 10 am could witness accidents due to very low visibility. Unless necessary, refrain from venturing out during this period.” Adding to the concerns, the IMD issued an orange alert for dense to moderate fog on Saturday (Dec 30), indicating an ongoing threat to normalcy in the region.
Also read: DENSE FOG PERSISTS IN DELHI-NCR, DISRUPTING TRAVEL PLANS
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