Delhi shivers as minimum dips, fog envelops city

New Delhi: The minimum temperature on Monday plunged to 4.2 degrees Celsius in the national capital, the coldest December 22 in the last five years and also the lowest this season, even as a thick blanket of fog disrupted normal life in the city and hit flight and train operations.

According to the MeT department, the minimum temperature of 4.2 degrees Celsius was four notches below normal. On Sunday, the morning temperature had settled two points below the season's average at 6.4 degrees Celsius.

Dense fog enveloped the national capital Monday morning with visibility dropping to zero in the early hours. However, visibility improved to 150 metres by 9 AM.

Low visibility hit flight and train operations as a number of flights were delayed at the IGI Airport here. Several incoming and outgoing trains too were running late. Around 70 north-bound trains, including Rajdhani Express coming from Kolkata, Ranchi, Bhubneshwar, Sealdah, Magadh. Lichhvih and Purshuttom Express were running late by several hours due to the dense fog.

Traffic moved slowly due to foggy conditions but there were no major traffic jams, said a senior traffic police official.

Weatherman said that things will improve by the afternoon. The day temperature may settle around 14 degree Celsius.