North India shivers: Air, rail traffic hit as dense fog blankets Delhi-NCR

North India shivers: Biting cold gripped North India as the temperature dropped to minus Celsius in several parts of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR. 

Dense fog, low clouds and low visibility persists over several parts of North India due to which travellers and passengers all across the nation face delays, cancellation in aviation, road transport and train operations all across the nation.  

Also Read: Weather update: Punjab to witness dense fog for next 3 days, check details  

The minimum temperature recorded in the national capital was 10.7 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for dense fog in North India.

"Dense Fog Advisory for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan and north Madhya Pradesh: Be careful while driving or outing through any transport. Use fog lights while driving. Be in touch with airlines, railways, and state transport for your journey schedule," IMD said in a post on X.

The IMD warned of 'difficult driving conditions with slower journey times' and diversion in airports, highways and railway routes.

Transport services delayed 

Transport services, including flights and trains, continue to face disruptions due to the heavy fog, resulting in multiple cancellations and delays. The Delhi airport experienced delays in both arrivals and departures and around 80 flights including international due to dense fog. The persisting foggy conditions forced the airport to issue advisory, warning passengers about potential disruptions in non-CAT III compliant flights.

Visibility across North India 

Pantnagar-200;
Ludhiana-200; 
Bhivani-500; 
Safdarjung-500; 
Bareilly, Bahraich and Prayagraj-200 each, 

Aligarh, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Fursatganj, Babatpur & Sultanpur- 500 each
Rajasthan's Ganganagar – 500; 
Bihar's Gaya – 200; 
Muzaffarpur and Patna - 500; 
Assam's Haflong was 200
 

How winter fog can affect your health? 

Dense fog contains particulate matter and other pollutants and in case exposed it gets lodged in the lungs, clogging them and decreasing their functional capacity which increases episodes of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. The fog conditions may tend to irritate the membranes of the eye causing various infections leading to redness or swelling of the eye.