Delhi, Punjab, and UP Shrouded in Dense Fog: Travel Disruptions and Air Quality Concerns
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North India woke up to a thick blanket of dense fog on Saturday, severely impacting visibility and disrupting road and air travel. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings of dense fog in several states, including Delhi, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. According to the IMD, dense fog was reported in most areas of Punjab, several places in West Uttar Pradesh, and isolated areas in East Uttar Pradesh and Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi. In the national capital, dense smog persisted throughout the morning, affecting areas such as Rao Tula Ram Marg, Akshardham, and Sarai Kale Khan. The IMD forecast predicted dense fog conditions in various regions, including Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and north Odisha, until December 21. Haryana, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are expected to experience dense fog from December 21 to 23. Delhi's weather was marked by a partly cloudy sky, with shallow fog in many areas and moderate fog in a few locations. The minimum temperature dropped by 1-3 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature fell by 4-6 degrees Celsius. The city's air quality deteriorated further, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 384, categorizing it as 'very poor'. Flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport were severely impacted, with 66 arriving and 63 departing flights cancelled. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued a weather advisory, warning of possible flight disruptions due to reduced visibility. As a result, low-visibility procedures were implemented at major airports, and domestic carriers issued travel advisories, warning of possible disruptions to flights operating to and from affected areas. The IMD also predicted rainfall and snowfall in the Western Himalayan region over the next four days, with heavy rainfall or snowfall expected in isolated places. Dense fog conditions are likely to persist in several regions, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh, until December 25.
