New Delhi, Jan 06: After remaining weak for a couple of days, foggy conditions strengthened in the national capital today, causing flight delays even as the minimum
temperature dipped to 5.6 degrees celsius.
The fog remained feeble till around six am. But after that it strengthened and enveloped the city, reducing visibility to 100 metres, the Meteorological Department said.
"Up to 0600 hours, it was all okay at the runway, when the RVR (runway visibility range) was recorded at 1100 metres. But by 0615 hours, it reduced to 300 metres and went on decreasing. At around 0800 hours, the RVR was mere 150 metres," an Airports Authority of India spokesman said.
Some morning flights had already taken off by the time the fog started gathering. However, after 0630 hours, flights could not take off and air services from the capital could resume only after 1000 hours, the spokesman said.
An international flight -- Lufthansa 762 – landed using the CAT-3A landing system, he said.
Train services continued to be disrupted due to foggy conditions in North India, with as many as six trains cancelled and many delayed by several hours.
Among cancelled trains were Kalindi Express from Delhi to Farukhabad, Unchahar express from Ambala to Allahabad and Lal Quila Express from Delhi to Sealdah. Late running trains included Mahananda Express from Katihar to Delhi, which was late by 18 hours, a railways spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the minimum dropped from yesterday's 7.7 degrees celsius to 5.6 degrees celsius, one degree below normal. The maximum temperature dropped to 19.3 degrees
celsius, two below normal, the met office said.
Bureau Report
