NEW DELHI: A thick blanket of fog covered Delhi-NCR on Friday morning, reducing visibility to zero. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a temperature of 9.6 degrees Celsius at 5.30am.
The Met Department has forecasted a minimum temperature of 6 degrees Celsius and a maximum of around 20 degrees Celsius for the day, with conditions of “very dense fog.”
In light of the foggy conditions, the Delhi Airport issued an advisory to passengers, notifying them of disruptions to flight departures.
The advisory noted that flights compliant with CAT III systems are still able to land and take off. Passengers were advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates. “Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” the statement added.
The air quality in Delhi has worsened, falling into the ‘severe’ category. At 7 am, the Central Pollution Control Board reported an AQI of 409, compared to 299 at the same time yesterday. An AQI between 401 and 500 indicates ‘severe’ air quality, posing health risks to residents.
With the dip in temperature, night shelters across the city were filled to capacity. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has installed 235 pagoda tents to accommodate the homeless.
These shelters have been set up in multiple locations, including AIIMS, Lodhi Road, and under the Nizamuddin flyover.