Parts of northern India are suffering a severe, protracted cold wave that has disrupted daily life.
More than a hundred flights and scores of trains have been delayed due to dense fog, causing mayhem at airports and train terminals.
Authorities in Delhi have requested that schools extend their winter break and have canceled sessions.
Sunday’s minimum temperature in portions of the city was 1.9 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures in Indian-administered Kashmir have plummeted to -6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit), as have those in other northern regions.
The Indian weather service declares a cold wave when the minimum temperature falls below 4 degrees Celsius.
The meteorological department has requested that outdoor activities be avoided or limited until the weather improves. In addition, drivers have been reminded to use caution when driving through strong fog.
Fog cause mayhem in northern India
The harsh cold is also predicted to cause health problems, particularly in Delhi, which endures high levels of pollution throughout the winter months.
The intense cold has been especially difficult for India’s homeless population, which frequently sleeps along roads and in train stations.
On Sunday, Delhi had one of the foggiest days of the season, with several hours of dense fog blanketing the city.
According to reports, poor visibility caused more than a hundred planes to be delayed. And many others to be diverted to neighboring airports. About 29 trains were running late in northern India, according to the Indian railways. Which transports approximately 23 million passengers daily.
On Monday, slow-moving vehicles were observed on the roadways due to the continuous presence of fog. Domestic airline IndiGo stated that flight schedules were altered “due to dense fog and poor visibility” in Delhi. And recommended customers verify their flight status before heading to the airport.
Officials anticipate that the cold wave will begin to subside on January 10.
