A thick layer of fog enveloped New Delhi on Saturday morning, causing disruptions in rail, airline, and traffic movements. Despite the foggy conditions, the city’s minimum temperature settled at 11.8 degrees Celsius, five notches above the seasonal average, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD warned of dense to very dense fog conditions likely to persist in most areas over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi until Sunday morning, with some pockets experiencing it for the subsequent three days.
The fog-induced challenges led to flight delays and cancellations, affecting over 70 international and domestic flights. Additionally, several trains arriving in Delhi faced delays, frustrating commuters. The city’s air quality remained in the ‘severe’ category, with PM2.5 levels at hazardous levels at various locations, impacting visibility and causing health concerns. The Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at the Indira Gandhi International Airport T3 was classified as ‘very poor’ for PM2.5 levels.