Delhi's minimum temperature at 3.5 degrees Celsius, fog engulfs city

Pic/PTI

Delhi's minimum temperature was at 3.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning while a thick layer of fog enveloped several parts of city, affecting rail and road traffic, reported news agency PTI.

Due to foggy conditions, at least 30 Delhi-bound trains or those having a route through the national capital were running late as on January 16, according to railway officials, reported PTI.

The Delhi airport issued an advisory in this regard that stated, "Low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information," reported ANI.

The season's coldest morning was registered in Delhi on Monday with a low of 3.3 degrees Celsius, four notches below the average, reported PTI.

Delhiites woke up again to a chilly morning on Tuesday as Delhi's minimum temperature stood at 3.5 degrees Celsius, four notches below the normal, at 8:30 am, according to data shared by India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, reported PTI.

The Palam observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 5.8 degrees Celsius in the morning.

Delhi's air quality index (AQI) showed a marginal improvement from the previous day's average reading. It was recorded at 351 ('very poor') at 9 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department said that the Palam and Safdarjung airports have reported 500-meter visibility.

Taking to 'X', the weather department wrote, "Delhi Palam (VIDP) and Safdarjung Airports are reporting 500 m visibilities at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 16th January."

As per the MeT department, fog is considered to be 'shallow' when the visibility stands up to 500 metres. 'Moderate' fog occurs when the visibility remains up to 200 metres.

As the visibility is up to 50 metres, the fog is categorised as 'dense'. It is categorised as 'very dense' when the visibility reaches below 50 metres.

Earlier on Monday, visibility was recorded as 'zero for the first time this winter season in Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Patiala, Ambala, Chandigarh, Palam, Safdarjung (New Delhi), Bareilly, Lucknow, Bahraich, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Tezpur, as per the weather department.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)