Delhi Grapples with Season's Worst Fog, Causing Delays in Trains and Flights

Delhi, on Wednesday, experienced the most severe fog of the season, disrupting transportation services with at least 25 trains and approximately 50 flights facing delays. The dense fog enveloped the city during the early hours, reducing visibility to a mere 50 meters in Safdarjung and Palam areas. The air quality, already at concerning levels, is anticipated to deteriorate further into the severe category later in the day.

According to a spokesperson from Northern Railways, the Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express and the Howrah-New Delhi Poorvah Express were among the 25 trains delayed, with delays exceeding five hours. The spokesperson emphasized that during dense fog in winter, trains operate at reduced speeds to ensure passenger safety.

As of 9 am, no flight diversions had been reported, but around 50 flights faced delays exceeding 15 minutes. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) highlighted that the fog witnessed on Wednesday was the thickest, intensifying across northern India. The prolonged duration of the fog, lasting from the night into the morning, contributed to its severity.

Visibility dropped to 50 meters in Safdarjung and Palam, with similar conditions reported in Amritsar, Lucknow, and Agra the previous evening. The IMD classifies fog based on visibility, categorizing it as shallow, moderate, dense, or very dense.

At 9 am on Wednesday, Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 380, categorized as "very poor," compared to 377 at 4 pm the previous day. The mercury dipped to 7°C. Experts predict a continued deterioration in air quality, with the likelihood of the severity persisting until Friday and remaining between "very poor" and "severe" for the next six days.

Despite an improvement in AQI on Monday, the levels remained significantly above safe limits. The daytime temperatures, reaching up to 22°C, have been attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon. Monday saw a maximum temperature of 23.8°C, followed by 24°C on Tuesday. Delhi residents brace for challenging conditions as the city grapples with the impact of the season's worst fog and worsening air quality.