New Delhi : As Delhi experienced freezing temperatures on Tuesday, approximately 30 flights departing from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport faced delays, with 17 cancellations attributed to adverse weather conditions, according to airport officials. The minimum temperature recorded was 5 degrees Celsius, leading to numerous passengers stranded at the airport.
One passenger shared, “My flight, scheduled for 8:40 am, is now set for 10:30 am… The reason given is mainly due to weather and fog.” An advisory from the Delhi airport highlighted ongoing low visibility procedures and urged passengers to check with their respective airlines for updated flight information.
Additionally, 30 trains experienced delays due to low visibility caused by the thick fog. Visuals from Nirankari Colony depicted a dense blanket of fog enveloping the area. The Indian Meteorological Department reported 500-meter visibility at Palam and Safdarjung airports.
In a statement, the weather department categorized fog as ‘shallow’ when visibility is up to 500 meters, ‘moderate’ when it remains up to 200 meters, and ‘dense’ when visibility drops to 50 meters. If visibility falls below 50 meters, the fog is classified as ‘very dense.’
On a related note, Monday witnessed zero visibility for the first time this winter season in various locations, including Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Patiala, Ambala, Chandigarh, Palam, Safdarjung (New Delhi), Bareilly, Lucknow, Bahraich, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Tezpur, as per the weather department. As temperatures dropped below freezing, people sought refuge in government-run ‘Rain Baseras’ (shelter homes) in Delhi, offering blankets, beds, hot water, and food to those without shelter.
