An intense cold wave gripped Delhi on Tuesday morning with the minimum temperature settling at 8.3 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal, along with dense fog covering the capital.
The fog cover resulted in a lack of visibility leading to delays in arrival and departures of over 26 Delhi-bound trains by 1 to 6 hours. Passengers faced problems at the New Delhi Railway Station due to the disrupted schedule.
Dense to moderate fog was observed at isolated pockets of the city, the India Meteorological Department said. As the harsh winter continued, people were seen huddled around bonfires to keep themselves warm.
The national capital’s Air Quality Index stood in the ‘Very Poor’ category at 346 micrograms per cubic meter on Tuesday morning as per the Central Pollution Control Board.
The cold wave intensified further in North India with minimum temperatures dipping across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The India Meteorological Department has predicted no respite from the cold till January 4th.
December 2022 was Delhi’s warmest December in six years with no ‘cold wave’ day throughout the month. But January has commenced with frigid temperatures accompanied by cold winds and dense fog.
Authorities have advised people not to ignore flu-like symptoms and get proper treatment to avoid complications. They have also appealed to provide shelter to the homeless while following fire safety measures.
