A severe cold wave and thick fog across North India caused major disruptions to air and rail travel on Friday morning, with Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport facing significant delays. Over 200 flights were delayed, and around 10 were cancelled, with arrival flights particularly affected. Outbound flights were also delayed, including 72 outbound flights and six cancellations. Airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet warned passengers about potential delays due to poor visibility.
The dense fog led to a dramatic reduction in visibility at Delhi Airport, causing delays and cancellations. Similar disruptions were reported at Kolkata airport, with 17 departures delayed and 36 arrivals affected. Rail travel also faced significant setbacks, with 24 trains delayed across northern India, including major long-distance services like Karnataka Express and Ayodhya Express, some delayed by over 4.5 hours.
In Punjab, a collision between a bus and a truck in Bathinda injured 20-25 passengers, further highlighting the dangers posed by the poor visibility. This severe weather pattern marked the fifth consecutive day of cold in the region, with temperatures dropping and thick fog expected to persist.
In Noida, authorities announced the closure of schools until 8 AM due to the dense fog, and similar advisories were issued for schools in Bihar, where hours were adjusted to 9 AM to 4 PM.
Other states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab are also grappling with the cold wave, and the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Delhi, forecasting continued foggy conditions.
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