A dense fog has gripped Delhi and its neighbouring areas, affecting road, rail and air traffic in the region. In Delhi -- where the weather office has sounded a "red" alert -- commuters were seen driving with emergency lights as the visibility on city roads plummeted below 50 metres.
Thirty trains that are either originating or scheduled to arrive in Delhi have been affected due to the dense fog.
The average maximum temperature this month is likely to be 19.15 degree Celsius. If it happens, then it will be the coldest December since 1997 when it was 17.3 degree Celsius, and the second-coldest December since 1901.
Only on four occasions between 1901 and 2018, the average maximum temperature for December has been either equal to or less than 20 degree Celsius in 1919, 1929, 1961 and 1997.
Here are the updates on the cold wave in North India:
All classes up to standard eight will remain suspended on December 31 and January 1 in all private and government schools across Noida and Greater Noida due to cold weather."
Dense fog-induced low visibility conditions led to the cancellations of 23 flights from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Monday.
According to a senior DGCA official, poor visibility led to the delays, 21 diversions and 23 cancellations.
Airport sources told news agency IANS, these flights had to be diverted as pilots were not trained to operate in CAT IIIB conditions.
Heavy fog had started to envelop the airport around 2 a.m.
Near Real-Time Satellite images show fog extent in North India (the massive white thing on the top of the animation). It has been dissipating in some places as the day progresses.
- Raj Bhagat Palanichamy (@rajbhagatt) December 30, 2019
Many flights have been cancelled/delayed/diverted due to this! pic.twitter.com/0C1LhNmWHV
#WeatherUpdate: Due to bad weather in Kishangarh (KQH), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via https://t.co/VkU7yLB2ny.
- SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) December 30, 2019
Low visibility in Delhi due to fog,visuals from Vasant Vihar area. Minimum temperature(in Safdarjung) at 4.6 degrees pic.twitter.com/y9YNPtrTZq
- ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2019