The national capital awoke to freezing weather on Tuesday, causing disruptions at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. Approximately 30 flights departing from the airport were delayed, and another 17 were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, as reported by airport officials.
The minimum temperature in the city dropped to 5 degrees Celsius, leading to visible inconveniences for many passengers seen waiting at the airport with their luggage.
One affected traveler shared their experience, stating, "My flight was about to depart at 8:40 am, but it is now scheduled to depart at 10:30 am... The reason they have given is mainly due to weather and fog," as told to ANI.
To address the situation, the Delhi airport issued an advisory, stating, “Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.”
Meanwhile, not only air travel but also train services faced disruptions, with 30 trains experiencing delays due to low visibility caused by the prevalent fog. Visuals from Nirankari colony showed a thick blanket of fog covering the area.
The Indian Meteorological Department reported that Palam and Safdarjung airports had visibility as low as 500 meters. The department, through 'X', conveyed, “Delhi Palam (VIDP) and Safdarjung Airports are reporting 500 m visibilities at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 16th January.”
The Meteorological Department categorized the fog as 'shallow' when visibility stands up to 500 meters. 'Moderate' fog occurs when the visibility remains up to 200 meters, while 'dense' fog is declared when visibility is up to 50 meters. The situation is classified as 'very dense' when visibility drops below 50 meters.
On the preceding Monday, visibility hit a record low, reaching 'zero' for the first time this winter season in several locations, including Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Patiala, Ambala, Chandigarh, Palam, Safdarjung (New Delhi), Bareilly, Lucknow, Bahraich, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Tezpur, according to the weather department.
As temperatures dropped below freezing, people sought refuge in government-run 'Rain Baseras' (Shelter homes). These night shelters in Delhi are designed to provide refuge to homeless individuals living on the streets, offering blankets, beds, hot water, and food to those seeking shelter from the harsh weather conditions.
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