On the first day of the New Year, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a dense fog layer covered parts of North India, affecting regions in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. This led to disruptions in transportation, with at least 21 trains facing delays. The IMD had issued a red alert for these states due to the dense fog.
The weather agency posted on X, “Fog layer (encircled patch) over Punjab, north Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, northwest Madhya Pradesh, south Uttarakhand, Sub Himalayan West Bengal is visible in satellite picture at 06:15 IST of 01.01.2024.”
As a result of the foggy conditions, 21 Delhi-bound trains, including the Ranchi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, experienced delays, causing frustration among passengers. Despite the foggy start, Delhi witnessed a warmer morning with a minimum temperature of 10.1 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season’s average.
While the maximum temperature on Sunday was 15.9 degrees Celsius, five notches below the season’s average, and the minimum temperature recorded was 11.7 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal, Monday brought improved visibility, standing at 700 meters at Safdarjung and 1,200 meters at Palam, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Despite the better weather conditions, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category, with a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 356 at 9 am on Monday. Forecasts indicate that the AQI is expected to stay ‘very poor’ until January 3.
