A thick fog blanket has descended over northern India, leading to dangerously low visibility and colder temperatures, significantly affecting both air and rail transportation.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the temperature in Delhi was recorded at a high of 16°C, which is 3°C below normal, with a minimum temperature of 7.6°C over the past 24 hours. The fog is expected to persist until January 8th, with light rain anticipated on January 6th. On Friday morning, the temperature was 9.6°C, marking the fifth consecutive cold day in the capital.

Visibility at Palam Airport in Delhi was at zero meters by 8 am, and Safdarjung Airport reported just 50 meters of visibility. These conditions affected airport operations, as neither of these terminals handles commercial flights. Meanwhile, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 309 at the Lodhi Road station, categorizing the air quality as ‘Very Poor.’

Delhi Airport saw multiple flight delays, with airlines including SpiceJet, Indigo, and Air India experiencing disruptions. SpiceJet reported significant weather-related delays on flights to and from Amritsar and Guwahati, while IndiGo issued a notice to travelers, cautioning of possible delays on flights from Delhi, Amritsar, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Guwahati. Passengers were advised to confirm their flight status before traveling as additional delays or cancellations could occur due to reduced visibility.

Train services departing from and arriving in Delhi were also severely delayed due to the dense fog. A total of 24 trains were running late, including the Ayodhya Express, which was delayed by four hours, the Gorakhdham Express, which faced delays of over two hours, and the Bihar Kranti Express and Shram Shakti Express, which both had delays exceeding three hours.

The IMD has issued a Nowcast warning for dense to very dense fog in various regions, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Light snow and rain are also expected in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

A “cold day” is officially declared when the minimum temperature drops below 10°C and the day’s maximum or minimum temperature is at least 4.5°C below the normal range. Due to the extreme cold, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has suspended school classes until further notice. The IMD predicts a minimum temperature of 8°C for Friday.