Zero Visibility Plays Havoc in North India, Road Accidents, Disruptions in Flight and Train Operations Reported at Various Cities – Check Details
Zero visibility reported in many cities of North India, leading to road accidents and disruptions in rail and flight operations
A severe wave of dense fog gripped North India on January 10, 2025, bringing normal life to a standstill as visibility dropped to zero in several areas. The blinding fog, coupled with a biting cold wave, disrupted flight and train operations across key cities, while road traffic slowed due to near-zero visibility.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported zero visibility at multiple airports, including Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Amritsar, Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur, and Kushinagar. Only CAT III compliant flights capable of low-visibility operations could take off and land at Delhi airport, while over 270 departures were delayed and six flights were canceled. Arrivals were similarly impacted, with 72 flights delayed and one canceled.
Satellite images at 6 am today showed the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain, from Lahore to Prayagraj, covered in a thick layer of fog.
Train Delays and Road Accidents Add to Travel Chaos
The fog also disrupted train services, with 26 long-distance trains running significantly behind schedule, some delayed by 7-8 hours. Among the affected trains were the Balurghat-Bhatinda Farakka Express, Hyderabad-New Delhi Telangana Express, and Lucknow Mail.
Road travel faced significant challenges as well. A multi-vehicle collision on the Delhi-Lucknow Highway left several people injured, with six vehicles involved in the pile-up. The dense fog reduced visibility so drastically that highways were temporarily blocked, worsening the travel crisis.
#Hapur, #UP: Several #vehicles #collide due to #DenseFog on the #Delhi–#Lucknow #Highway near the #Bahadurgarh station area.
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) January 10, 2025
Source: #HapurPolice
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Severe Air Quality Worsens Delhi’s Troubles
Adding to the chaos, Delhi’s air quality plummeted to a “severe” level with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 409, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marked a sharp deterioration from the previous day’s AQI of 299. Authorities reintroduced Stage 3 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb rising pollution levels.
VIDEO | Dense fog reduces visibility to zero in Delhi amid intense cold in the region. Visuals from BRT Road, Khanpur.#DelhiWeather #DelhiNews #WeatherUpdate
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 10, 2025
(Full Video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/OleC9lP5Uu
Weather Forecast and Ongoing Cold Wave Alerts
The IMD has predicted further weather challenges, including a rainy week ahead for parts of North India. Thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms are expected in some areas, which could further impact visibility and travel plans. Severe cold wave warnings remain in effect for Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Travelers are advised to stay updated with official advisories, plan for potential delays, and avoid non-essential travel during this extreme weather spell.
