New Delhi, 17 January (H.S.): Thick blankets of fog enveloped large swathes of the national capital on Saturday morning, severely disrupting rail and air traffic amid an unrelenting cold wave gripping northern India.Low visibility at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport triggered delays across multiple flights, while a staggering 177 trains operated behind schedule due to the hazardous conditions.

Delhi Airport issued an advisory early Saturday, urging passengers to verify flight status with their airlines before heading out, as fog intermittently hampers operations.Railway running lists indicate delays ranging from two to eight hours on several services, with all major trains to and from Delhi significantly impacted.

Divisions including Prayagraj, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Agra, and Jhansi recorded the heaviest disruptions, as trains proceed at controlled speeds owing to compromised signaling and location visibility.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the cold wave and dense fog, though minimum temperatures showed marginal improvement—from 4°C on January 16 to 7°C this morning.

Meanwhile, air quality remains a grave concern; the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 368 around 7 AM, categorizing it as very poor.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar