IMD Issues Fog Advisory: Travel Disruptions Likely in UP, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a dense to very dense fog advisory across several northern and central states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. The advisory warns of poor visibility, which may affect road, rail, and air travel.

IGI Airport Issues Passenger Advisory

On Tuesday morning, Delhi Airport reported visibility of just 200 metres and a temperature of 8°C at 6:00 AM.

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) issued a passenger advisory, stating:

Flight operations continue under CAT III conditions.
Both arrivals and departures are ongoing, though delays may occur.
Passengers are advised to contact airlines for real-time flight updates.

IMD warned that foggy conditions are likely to persist into the morning, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of travel disruptions.

States Expected to Experience Fog

According to the IMD:

Very dense fog is likely in parts of east Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.
Dense fog may affect Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, and western Uttar Pradesh.

The IMD advised commuters to drive cautiously, reduce speeds, maintain safe distances, and use fog lights instead of high beams. Non-essential travel during early morning hours should be avoided.

Cold Wave Impacts Schools in Lucknow

Amid the cold conditions, the Lucknow district administration announced that schools up to Class 8 will remain closed until January 8. Schools for Classes 9 to 12 will operate with revised timings starting at 10 AM.

Several cities in Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur, Etawah, Barabanki, Shahjahanpur, and Hardoi, recorded minimum temperatures below 5°C, signaling a severe cold wave.

Air Quality Improves in Delhi-NCR

Despite foggy conditions, air quality in Delhi-NCR showed noticeable improvement. Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 279, which still falls under the ‘poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Sameer app.