A severe cold wave persisted in many parts of North India, including Delhi and its neighboring areas, on Friday, with dense fog significantly reducing visibility. This marked the fifth consecutive day of a cold wave in the National Capital Region (NCR), with a substantial drop in maximum temperature.
The dense fog engulfing the city disrupted traffic movement, with visibility reduced to merely 50 meters at Delhi airport. Runway visibility was zero at 7 am, prompting airport authorities to warn of potential disruptions to flight operations.
“Flights not equipped with CAT III compliant technology may be affected,” the airport advisory stated. “Passengers are advised to contact their airlines for updated flight information.”
The India Meteorological Department issued an orange warning for Delhi, anticipating “dense to very dense fog” and predicting a partly cloudy sky.
In response to the extreme weather conditions, authorities in Noida ordered the closure of classes till 8th standard in all schools until further notice. The weather department predicted a low of 8 degrees Celsius on Friday.
The severe cold wave and dense fog have also affected other states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Bihar. In Bihar, the mercury plummeted, with minimum temperatures expected to remain between 6-11 degrees Celsius over the next three to four days.
To mitigate the effects of the cold wave, the Bihar government ordered changes in school timings. All schools will now operate from 9 am to 4 pm until January 6.
In Rajasthan’s Fatehpur, the lowest temperature recorded in the past 24 hours was 3.6 degrees Celsius. As the cold wave continues to grip North India, residents are advised to take necessary precautions to stay warm and safe.
