It was a challenging Tuesday morning for residents of the Delhi-NCR region as they woke up to an enveloping layer of dense fog that significantly reduced visibility and brought the temperature down to a chilling 7 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department reported. The iconic India Gate, along with Sarai Kale Khan, AIIMS, Safdarjung, and Anand Vihar areas, were shrouded in this thick fog, impairing visibility and causing difficulties for the morning commute.
Social media sprang to life with postings indicating the severe weather conditions affecting the capital. One tweet featured drone footage from 7:25 am showing the intensity of the fog that had settled over parts of the city:
#WATCH | Delhi: Parts of Delhi engulfed in fog as cold-wave continues, visuals from Sarai Kale Khan
(Drone visuals shot at 7:25 am) pic.twitter.com/xPtFzCkmOz
The plummeting temperatures led many to seek warmth and shelter in the provided night shelters, as the cold wave’s grip tightened during the night. The increasingly severe weather prompted the IMD to issue satellite images that demonstrated how the fog was not just a local phenomenon, but also blanketed regions of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
The low visibility was not unique to Delhi, as similar conditions were captured in the visuals from Moradabad and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, with the fog density bringing visibility down to virtually zero. The hazardous conditions were encapsulated in the words of a rickshaw driver from Moradabad, who lamented the drop in rides and the elevated risks of navigating the roads due to the decreased visibility and biting cold. A nearby night security guard echoed these sentiments, citing the compounded difficulty of working night shifts in such cold, foggy weather.
To stave off the cold, local inhabitants congregated around bonfires along roadsides throughout the region, seeking the small comfort provided by the flames against the cold wave’s harsh effects.
Aside from the impacts on road transportation, air travel was significantly affected, with the Delhi airport reporting delays for about 30 flights, including international ones, due to the fog. Tuesday morning saw the airport’s Flight Information Display System showing a ripple of delays, with sources indicating that the fog might contribute to further disruptions throughout the day.
A passenger advisory from the Delhi airport cautioned that while landings and takeoffs were continuing, flights not equipped with CAT III compliance might face adjustments. Passengers were advised to stay in contact with their respective airlines for the latest information on their flights. The CAT-III Instrument Landing System (ILS) aids in safe landings during low visibility, and its relevance becomes paramount during such adverse weather conditions.
The health implications of the dense fog in the region were warned about by the IMD, noting the hazardous nature of particulate matter and other pollutants contained within the fog. These pollutants can cause respiratory issues, ranging from coughing and wheezing to breathlessness. Eye irritation leading to infections, redness, or swelling may also arise due to exposure, indicating a range of health concerns during this period of reduced air quality.
Air quality monitoring showed the persistence of a ‘very poor’ air quality index (AQI) level in several localities. The measurements for Greater Noida, Noida, and Ghaziabad were respectively 329, 323, and 303, solidly placing them in the ‘very poor’ bracket, while Gurgaon recorded an AQI of 266.
As residents hope for an improvement in both weather and air quality, the situation remains a significant challenge for the Delhi-NCR region, affecting daily life, health, and safe travel.
