Delhi: Flights delayed; air quality remains "very poor" despite respite from cold wave

Weather office predicts a fresh spell of cold wave in northwest India next week would see mercury dropping by three to five degrees Celsius even as the chilly conditions abated slightly in many states providing relief to people.

New Delhi: With slight rains in several parts of the national capital, Delhites got some respite from the chilling cold wave on Friday morning with the minimum temperature rising to 12 degree Celsius and moderate fog conditions. However, flights were delayed at the Delhi Airport due to fog.

Six flights scheduled to depart from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) were delayed due to dense fog, ANI reported quoting airport authority. Among the flight routes affected by the severe fog were Delhi-San Francisco/Kathmandu, Delhi-Chandigarh-Kullu, Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Dharamshala-Chandigarh, Delhi-Shimla- Dharamshala, Delhi-Dehradun.

The air quality in Delhi was in "very poor" category with the overall air quality index (AQI) at 341. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded on Friday morning was 12.2 degree. The was humidity recorded at 97 per cent and the East-northeasterly wind at 5.4 km.

The AQI in the Delhi University area was recorded at 380 while in Pusa, the AQI was 328, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) data. In the area around IIT Delhi, the AQI was 325. In Mathura Road, the AQI was recorded at 340 and the Lodhi Road area recorded AQI at 326.

Cold wave to return

Cold wave conditions are likely to re-emerge over North-West India and peak around January 15-16 with minimum temperatures expected to dip, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). On January 14, the IMD has forecast dense to very dense fog in some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi.

Same forecast issued for isolated pockets over Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Dense fog in isolated pockets over Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Odisha is also expected with cold day conditions very likely in isolated pockets over Bihar. "Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions very likely in some parts of north Rajasthan and cold wave conditions in isolated pockets over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh," the IMD said.

On January 15, the IMD expects dense to very dense fog likely in some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi; in isolated pockets over Uttar Pradesh. Dense fog in isolated pockets over Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, north Madhya Pradesh and Bihar is also expected with cold day conditions likely in isolated pockets over Uttar Pradesh on January 15.