Delhi Weather: Third successive foggy morning, 51 trains delayed

Delhi Weather: For the third consecutive morning, Delhi was shrouded in a dense layer of fog, disrupting travel and delaying 51 trains, officials reported on Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that visibility at Palam airport dropped to zero between 4:00 am and 7:30 am, with Safdarjung recording a minimal visibility of just 0.50 metres at 5:30 am. By 7:30 am, both Palam and Safdarjung airports were experiencing “very dense fog,” reducing general visibility to zero.

Also read: Delhi wakes up to dense fog and cold wave, several flights and trains disrupted

Adding to the challenges, the city’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 372 at 9:00 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. The AQI scale categorises air quality as follows: 0-50 is “good,” 51-100 “satisfactory,” 101-200 “moderate,” 201-300 “poor,” 301-400 “very poor,” and 401-500 “severe.”

Weather conditions also showed a slight departure from the norm, with the minimum temperature settling at 9.4°C, two degrees above average. Humidity levels were recorded at 95% at 8:30 am, further intensifying the foggy conditions.

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The IMD has forecast dense to very dense fog persisting throughout the day, with the maximum temperature expected to reach around 18°C. Saturday also saw severe fog, with Palam enduring nine hours of zero visibility.

These weather and pollution conditions continue to pose significant challenges for residents, impacting transportation and public health across the national capital.

Also read: Delhi dense fog: 19 flights diverted, over 200 delayed amid low visibility

Meanwhile, Early Saturday morning, dense fog and low visibility disrupted operations at Delhi airport for the second consecutive day, resulting in 19 flight diversions and delays for over 200 flights.

IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, temporarily suspended arrivals and departures at the airport during the morning. According to an official, 19 flights were diverted between 12:15 am and 1:30 am due to poor visibility. Among these, 13 were domestic, 4 international, and 2 non-scheduled flights. Operations have since returned to normal, the official added.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) issued a statement on X at 6:56 am, advising passengers: “While landing and takeoffs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.” The CAT III facility allows aircraft to operate in low visibility conditions, and the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is equipped with this system.

(With inputs from PTI)