Thick Fog Cripples Delhi Train Services

Dense Fog Shuts Down Delhi Morning: Trains Delayed as Visibility Drops to Zero Heavy fog enveloped Delhi on Tuesday morning, bringing the city into zero visibility at many places. India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that at 4:30 AM IST, the Palam area faced zero visibility and that the Safdarjung registered a minimum of 50 metres at 5:30 AM IST. It led to critical delays in train movement. Even by 6 AM, as many as 39 trains are believed to have been delayed and a few of these trains had been delayed from 30 minutes to four hours at a stretch. Warnings have been given to passengers to refer to the timetables and for today morning the fog persisted. Weather Updates Lowest of the season stood at 8.9 degrees Celsius, about little above the average of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The IMD has predicted dense to very dense fog for the day ahead. The mercury is expected to remain at maximum at 19 degrees Celsius only. Palam registered southeasterly wind flow within the range of 6-8 kmph. At Safdarjung, the conditions were calm. Dense fog during these levels at north India recently has been routine this winter with very high moisture content and extremely cold. Status of Air Quality Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the "poor" category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 256 at 9 AM, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This classification highlights the challenges residents face during winter, when air pollution worsens due to factors like stagnant air and increased emissions. The AQI scale defines the following categories: 0–50: Good 51–100: Satisfactory 101–200: Moderate 201–300: Poor 301–400: Very Poor 401–500: Severe Advisory for Residents The authorities have advised the users of the road to be extra cautious on the road since visibility has become low. The authorities have appealed to the users of the roads to turn on their fog lights, ensure safe distances and also drive slow when fog falls on the road. The residents were advised to be watchful about the bad air quality since they should minimize the outdoor physical activity during the late hours of the morning and evening when it is usually at its peak. Heavy fog and bad air quality give serious cause for concern about the periodic woes that Delhi has to suffer through in winters. Interactions between weather and pollution give grave interruptions to day-to-day life, transport, and health. These include emission monitoring and encouragement of public transport besides other measures that may include strict norms raised on industrial operations during the peak seasons of pollution to achieve clarity of air. Source: This article is based on information from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).