Dense fog envelops north India, disrupts transport services

NEW DELHI: A thick blanket of fog descended on most parts of north India today affecting transport services in early hours even as sun gave way to a clear day.

Over 30 flights and 61 trains to and from the national capital were delayed due to dense fog in the morning but it gradually drifted paving way for a sunny day with the maximum temperature settling at 20.7 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 9.4 degree Celsius and the visibility remained less than 50 meters at 8:30 AM.

Biting cold conditions coupled with thick fog disrupted train, road and rail traffic and threw normal life out of gear at many places in Punjab and Haryana.

At least two flights of private carriers to Delhi stood cancelled, most other flights were delayed. Rail services were also hit with many trains running late or delayed by hours.

Barring Amritsar, Hisar and Narnaul, thick fog reduced visibility considerably early this morning at other places in the two states and Chandigarh, a MeT department said.

Chandigarh's low settled at 8.2 degree Celsius. Amritsar in Punjab was the coldest place in the two states recording a low of 2.5 degree Celsius.

Dense fog enveloped western Uttar Pradesh today even as weather remained mainly dry over other parts of the state. Orai in Jalaun district recorded the lowest minimum temperature of four degrees Celsius in the state.

Similar conditions disrupted transport services in Rajasthan with 13 trains being delayed and one got cancelled.

Hill resort Mount Abu experienced the lowest temperature at one degree Celsius in the state while Churu recorded a minimum of 4.7 degrees Celsius followed by 5.8 degree Celsius in Sriganganagar last night.

Meanwhile in Kashmir, which is currently under the grip of the 40-day harshest winter period 'Chillai-Kalan', the night temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 2.6 degrees Celsius and Pahalgam was the coldest place in the Valley recording minus 6.0 degrees Celsius temperature.

Leh town, in the frontier Ladakh region, recorded a minimum of minus 15.6 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest recorded place in the state.