NEW DELHI: A severe cold wave combined with a “blindfold” layer of fog has brought life to a standstill across North India this Sunday.
While residents in Delhi woke up to a bone-chilling 5.3°C (Safdarjung Observatory), visibility dropped to zero meters, triggering a massive disruption in flight and train operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red/Orange Alert for dense fog in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh for the next 24 hours.
The “Zero Visibility” Nightmare
According to IMD satellite data from Sunday morning (Jan 18):
- Delhi (Safdarjung): 0 Meters visibility (Very Dense Fog).
- Amritsar & Patiala: <50 Meters.
- Lucknow & Varanasi: <50 Meters.
- Rajasthan (Alwar/Churu): Temperatures dipped as low as 3°C, colder than Delhi.
Travel Chaos: Flights & Trains Hit
If you are traveling today or Monday morning (Jan 19), expect significant delays.
1. Flight Operations (IGI Airport):
- Over 50 flights were delayed this morning at Delhi Airport due to “Low Visibility Procedures” (LVP).
- Airlines Advisory: IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet have issued warnings. “Flight schedules are impacted. Please check status before heading to the airport.”
2. Indian Railways:
- The Northern Railway reports that 18 to 22 long-distance trains are running late by 2-6 hours.
- Affected Routes: New Delhi-Howrah (Poorva Express), Delhi-Jammu (Rajdhani), and tracks passing through Kanpur/Prayagraj.
Forecast for Tomorrow (Monday, Jan 19)
The relief is not coming yet. The IMD predicts:
- Cold Wave: Will continue in isolated pockets of Rajasthan and Haryana.
- Fog: “Very Dense Fog” is expected again on Monday morning (Jan 19) and Tuesday (Jan 20).
- Temperature: Minimum temperatures in Delhi-NCR will hover between 5°C and 7°C for the next 2 days.
Health Advisory:
Doctors advise avoiding early morning walks (before 9 AM) as the pollution trapped in the fog (Smog) has pushed Delhi’s AQI back into the “Severe” category (439).
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PART C: AUTHORSHIP & TRANSPARENCY
- Sign-off: Reported by Kitto Weather Desk | Edited by Senior Desk.
- Source Transparency: Weather data cited from IMD Morning Bulletin (Jan 18, 2026) and Delhi Airport Flight Information System.
- Accountability: Found an error? Email kittonews@gmail.com.
