Dense fog causes delays in air, rail operations in northern India

NEW DELHI

The air quality in India's national capital New Delhi and surrounding areas remained poor on Sunday, with dense fog causing delays in rail and air travel services in the country's north, which is also experiencing a severe cold wave.

While a heavy layer of fog blanketed the city in the morning, the meteorological service reported a minimum temperature of 1.9 degrees Celsius in the Safdarjung neighborhood of Delhi.

The India Meteorological Department forecasted "dense to very dense fog conditions over many parts of Punjab and Haryana and Chandigarh during next 48 hours and decrease in intensity and distribution thereafter."

Lower visibility has also hampered flight and train operations in northern parts of the country, with the Indian Northern Railway confirming 42 trains were delayed to New Delhi owing to foggy weather.

Similarly, Delhi International Airport Limited announced in a statement that severe fog may impede airport operations. "Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information," it said.

Local news broadcaster NDTV reported on Saturday that poor weather caused disruption at Delhi airport, with over 30 flights delayed.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board, a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, showed that the capital city's air quality remained poor on Sunday afternoon.

As the region's air quality worsened on Friday, some curbs were reimposed "in an effort to steer clear of further deterioration of air quality in the region."