NEW DELHI: A cold wave combined with dense fog has gripped several regions of North India, severely impacting visibility. Delhi, in particular, woke up to a chilly morning, with thick fog limiting visibility in many areas. The cold wave continues to affect the national capital, and visuals from Rajasthan, Punjab, and parts of Assam show similar conditions with extremely low visibility along major routes.

Travel Disruptions Due to Dense Fog

The fog has caused significant disruptions in train and flight operations. On Friday, many trains faced delays at New Delhi railway stations, with some trains running several hours late due to the poor visibility. Among the delayed services were the Ayodhya Express, which was running four hours late, and the Gorakh Express, which was delayed by three hours. Other affected trains included:

Gorakh Dham Express, Farakka Express, Bihar Sampark Kranti Express, Mahabodhi Express, Kalindi Express, Brahmaputra Express, Shram Shakti Express, Baba Baidyanath Dham Express, Nandan Kanan Express, Rewa Antyodaya Express, RJPB Tejas Rajdhani Express, Ayodhya Express, Dauladhar Express, Malwa Express, Jabalpur Nizamuddin Superfast Express, Akal Takht Express, UP Sampark Kranti Express, Mewar Express, Chhattisgarh Sampark Kranti Express, LTT Haridwar Express, RKMP Nizamuddin Superfast Express, Telangana Express, Sampark Kranti Express.

Flight Disruptions and Advisory Issued

In addition to trains, flights were also impacted by the fog. Airlines such as SpiceJet and Indigo faced disruptions, with delays and cancellations reported. The Delhi International Airport Limited issued an advisory early in the morning, urging passengers to check with their respective airlines, particularly for flights not compliant with CAT III regulations.

Orange Alert for Delhi-NCR

The IMD issued an ORANGE alert for DelhiNCR, warning residents of extremely low visibility. The cold wave and dense fog are continuing to cause problems in the region. At 5:30 am, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.6 degrees Celsius. According to the IMD's 7-day forecast, Delhi will experience "very dense fog" throughout the day, with similar conditions expected in the coming days. However, there may be light rain on January 6, which could help alleviate some of the fog.

As the cold wave persists, Delhi residents have been seen huddling around bonfires and seeking shelter in night homes to stay warm.