Delhi was shrouded in dense fog on Saturday, with visibility dropping to zero for nine consecutive hours from 6 pm to 3 am at Palam. This marked the season’s longest spell of such severe conditions. Safdarjung, the city’s primary weather station, recorded eight hours of zero visibility, significantly impacting daily life and transportation.
Flight Operations Severely Affected
The dense fog caused significant disruptions at Delhi Airport, resulting in 19 flight diversions—13 domestic, four international, and two non-scheduled flights. Additionally, over 45 flights were canceled, and more than 400 experienced delays due to poor weather both in Delhi and at destination airports. The impact of the weather extended to Friday as well, with over 400 flights delayed on that day alone.
Railways Hit Hard
The Northern Railway reported severe delays, with 59 trains running behind schedule by up to six hours and 22 others delayed by approximately eight hours. The disruptions highlighted the far-reaching impact of the foggy conditions on the city’s transport network.
Weather Conditions and Forecast
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a maximum temperature of 20°C and a minimum of 7.8°C on Saturday. For Sunday, the IMD predicts a partly cloudy sky with smog and moderate fog expected in most areas. Dense fog is likely in a few spots during the morning hours. Wind speeds are forecast to increase to 8-10 kmph from the southeast in the afternoon but will decrease to less than 6 kmph by evening. The day’s temperatures are expected to hover around 18°C (maximum) and 10°C (minimum).
Air Quality Remains Poor
Delhi’s air quality continued to deteriorate, with the city recording a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 378, placing it in the “very poor” category.
The persistent fog and air quality issues underscore the challenges faced by Delhi residents as winter intensifies.=
