New Delhi experienced dense fog and plummeting temperatures on Friday, disrupting daily life and causing widespread travel delays. Visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport dropped to zero, resulting in delays for 202 flights. Train operations were similarly affected, with at least 24 departures running behind schedule.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 16°C, three degrees below normal, and a minimum of 7.6°C in the past 24 hours. Friday morning registered 9.6°C, marking the fifth consecutive cold day in the capital. The IMD forecasts foggy conditions in Delhi until January 8, with light rain likely on January 6.
At 8 am, visibility at Palam Airport dropped to 0 meters, while Safdarjung Airport reported just 50 meters of visibility. Neither airport is used for commercial flight operations.
Major airlines like SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India faced significant disruptions, with delayed departures averaging 47 minutes and arrival delays of six minutes, according to FlightRadar24. SpiceJet reported issues on routes to Amritsar and Guwahati, while IndiGo issued travel advisories for flights to and from Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Amritsar, and Guwahati. Airlines warned travelers to prepare for possible cancellations if visibility conditions failed to improve.
The cold and foggy conditions delayed multiple trains departing from Delhi. The Ayodhya Express was delayed by four hours, the Gorakhdham Express by over two hours, and the Bihar Kranti Express and Shram Shakti Express by more than three hours each.
The IMD issued a “Nowcast” warning for dense to very dense fog across Delhi and other states, including parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. Affected cities include Amritsar, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Kota, and Sri Ganganagar. Meanwhile, light rain and snow are expected in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
In Gautam Buddh Nagar, the cold wave prompted authorities to suspend classes for students up to Class 8 until further notice. The Met Department predicts a minimum temperature of 8°C in the region on Friday.
IMD classifies a “cold day” when the minimum temperature is below 10°C, and the maximum or minimum temperature is at least 4.5°C below normal. With temperatures and visibility dipping further, the cold wave is set to keep much of North India under its grip in the coming days.
Travelers are advised to stay updated on weather and transport schedules and prepare for delays as the region braces for continued winter disruptions.