Dense fog hits normal life in North India

New Delhi: Dense flog blanketed most parts of North India on Thursday, affecting normal life and throwing rail traffic in the region out of gear with more than 40 trains cancelled and several others getting delayed.

Delhi shivered in biting cold with the minimum slipping to 6.9 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average. The maximum was recorded at 17.3 degrees Celsius, four notches below the normal.

The day started with overcast conditions which later gave way to a bright sun. Moderate to dense fog during the early morning hours disrupted rail services leading to cancellation of 40 trains and delayed 18 others. However, flight operations remained normal.

Visibility fell from 1,000 metres at 5.30 AM to 700 metres at 8.30 AM. It then improved to 1,500 meters at 11.30 AM.

Cold wave continued in Jammu and Kashmir owing to dry weather while the Valley witnessed unusual bright sunshine.

The mercury in Kargil in Ladakh region plunged to the season's lowest at minus 16.4 degrees Celsius.

More than 12 flights were delayed and several trains to Jammu running late due to fog.

"Around 12 flights to Jammu were delayed by an hour because of poor visibility due to dense fog. Normal flight operations resumed later in the day as fog dissipated," an official at the Jammu airport said.

Srinagar registered a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius.

The city also witnessed unusual bright sunshine for the third consecutive day today owing to clear skies, local MeT office said.

Kargil experienced the season's coldest night as the mercury there went down by over a degree to settle at a low of minus 16.4 degrees Celsius against minus 15 degrees Celsius the previous night.

The nearby Leh town also shivered at minus 16 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is in the midst of the 40-day-long harshest phase of winter, which began on December 21 and will continue till the end of this month.

Cold wave swept Rajasthan with Mount Abu recording a low of - 3 deg C affecting normal life and lowering tourist arrival at the hill station even as Jaipur district authorities directed all private, government and CBSE-affiliated schools to alter their timings from tomorrow to January 30.

All schools from classes I to V will start at 9:30 AM or afterwards, and classes VI to XII will begin at 8 30 AM or afterwards in Jaipur district, District collector Krishna Kunal said.