The national capital woke up to a dense blanket of fog on Saturday, causing disruptions across various modes of transportation. Despite the foggy conditions, the minimum temperature settled at 11.8 degrees Celsius, which is notably five degrees higher than the usual seasonal average, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD predicts the persistence of dense to very dense fog over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi till Sunday morning, with some areas likely to experience these conditions for the following three days.
At 9 a.m., Palam station recorded a visibility of 700 meters, while Safdarjung marked 400 meters, indicating the dense fog's impact on visibility levels.
Throughout the day, the fog is anticipated to gradually disperse, leading to clearer skies by the afternoon. However, the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 19 degrees Celsius.
The fog has significantly affected flight and train schedules, causing delays and potential cancellations. Over 70 international and domestic flights experienced extensive delays during the early hours of Saturday due to low visibility conditions.
Commuters relying on trains faced similar challenges, with numerous arrivals and departures to Delhi experiencing considerable delays. Major trains like the Jammu Tawi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and Mumbai-Nizamuddin August Kranti Rajdhani witnessed hours of delay, adding to passenger frustrations.
Despite the foggy weather, Delhi's air quality remained in the 'severe' category. The Anand Vihar area registered high levels of PM2.5 at 429 and PM10 at 414, along with moderate CO levels at 107, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The Air Quality Index (AQI) categorization indicates 'severe' conditions, emphasizing the deteriorating air quality. At the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport T3, PM2.5 levels stood at 361, categorized as 'very poor,' while PM10 levels reached 251, falling under the 'poor' category.
(With Agency Inputs)
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