Delhi records minimum temp of 8.4 deg Celsius, dense fog delays trains

Pic/AFP

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 8.4 degrees Celsius, one notch above the season's average, while dense fog affected visibility in several parts of the city on Thursday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), reported news agency PTI.

Reduced visibility also hit railway services, with 22 Delhi-bound trains delayed, reported PTI.

The Delhi airport reported delays in flight operations affecting approximately 134 flights, both arrivals and departures (domestic and international), due to fog. While 35 international flight departures got delayed from Delhi, 28 international arrivals got delayed as well. On the other hand, 43 domestic departures and 28 domestic arrivals got delayed.

As many as 22 trains were delayed at the New Delhi Railway Station as well, amid low visibility. Trains like the Howrah New Delhi Rajdhani and Jammu Tawi Rajdhani were running late for more than an hour. Visuals from the station showed several passengers waiting amid intense cold.

"Dense to very dense fog (0-25 metres) in some pockets of Uttar Pradesh and in isolated pockets over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Southwest Rajasthan and North Madhya Pradesh," the IMD said in a bulletin.

"Less than 30 metres of visibility was recorded in Patiala, Ambala, Chandigarh Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Palam, Bareilly, Lucknow, Varanasi and Gwalior," it said.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 8.4 degrees Celsius. In Delhi, the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 21 degrees Celsius, according to the department. The air quality of the city was in the "very poor" category.

The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 95 per cent in Delhi, the IMD said.

The IMD has also issued a dense fog warning for Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during the late and early hours until December 31.

In an advisory for dense fog, the department has asked drivers to use fog lights and travellers to stay updated on schedules of airlines, railways and state transport. "Exercise caution while driving or using any mode of transportation," the IMD said.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data stated that Delhi's overall air quality index (AQI) at 9 am stood at 377.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)