A severe, protracted cold wave that has affected parts of northern India has disrupted daily life.
Chaos has ensued at airports and train stations as a result of the dense fog that has
delayed more than a hundred flights and dozens of trains.
Authorities in Delhi, the nation’s capital, sought an extension of the winter break and canceled classes.
On Sunday, the city’s minimum temperature dipped to 1.9C in several areas.
Other northern states are also experiencing a severe cold wave, with Kashmir, which is administered by India, experiencing temperatures as low as -6C (21F).
When the minimum temperature falls below 4C, India’s weather service declares a cold wave.
People have been urged to “avoid or limit outside activities” until the weather becomes better, according to the meteorological authority. People have also been advised to exercise caution when traveling through thick fog.
Health problems are anticipated as a result of the extreme cold, particularly in Delhi,
where wintertime pollution levels are particularly high.
The homeless population in India, who frequently sleep on the roadside and at train
stations, has found the intense cold to be extremely difficult.
Sunday was one of the foggiest days this season so far in Delhi, with the city being
completely obscured by a heavy mist for several hours.
According to reports, over a hundred planes at the Delhi airport were delayed due to poor visibility, while several more had to be diverted. Around 29 trains were operating behind schedule in northern India, according to the Indian Railways, which handles about 23 million people daily.
On Monday, there were still foggy conditions and slow-moving cars were seen on the roads. In a tweet, domestic airline IndiGo recommended customers check the status of their flights before heading to the airport because flight times were impacted in Delhi “due to intense fog and poor visibility.”
Officials have stated that they anticipate the cold wave to start to pass starting on
January 10.
