Delhi awoke to a thick blanket of fog on Wednesday, severely limiting visibility to less than 50 meters and causing disruptions in flights, rail, and road traffic.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) classifies fog into four categories – shallow, moderate, dense, and very dense, with visibility ranging from 999m to 500m, 499m to 200m, 199m to 50m, and < 50m, respectively.
As the day progresses, the forecast predicts a gradual dissipation of the fog, leading to a clearer atmosphere by the afternoon.
The dense fog has prompted increased caution in railway operations, impacting the departure and arrival times of trains. Flight schedules are also affected, with numerous flights experiencing delays and potential cancellations.
By 8 a.m., over 40 flights have been delayed due to the ongoing dense fog, including disruptions in international and domestic departures and arrivals. Delhi airport has issued an advisory, noting that flights not compliant with CAT III may be affected, and passengers are advised to check with airlines for updated flight information.
Commuters are facing delays in several trains arriving in the Delhi region, causing frustration among passengers. Twenty-five trains are behind schedule, with varying degrees of delay on multiple routes. The Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express and Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express are both delayed by five hours, the maximum delay reported throughout the day.
The challenging fog conditions have also impacted Delhi's air quality, which remains in the 'severe' category on the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale. Anand Vihar has breached the 'severe' threshold, with PM2.5 and PM10 levels standing at 500 and CO at 118, categorized as 'moderate' by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The IGI Airport T3 recorded PM2.5 levels at 437 and PM10 at 431, both falling under the 'severe' category, while CO levels were rated 'moderate' at 132.
Commuters are advised to exercise caution during morning hours due to reduced visibility caused by lingering fog, and to stay updated on real-time schedules for effective journey planning.
(With Agency Inputs)
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