Dense fog continued to grip parts of north India for the fifth consecutive day on Monday as visibility in Agra, Chandigarh touched zero.
Visuals from Delhi's ITO on Monday morning showed an extremely reduced visibility while very low visibility was recorded in most cities. On Monday, at 5:30 am, Safdarjung and Palam recorded 25m and 50m visibility respectively.
As per Satellite imagery and available visibility data fog layer extended from Punjab and adjoining northwest Rajasthan to Bihar across Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
In Uttar Pradesh, Agra recorded a 0m visibility along with Amausi in Lucknow. Varanasi (Babatpur) and Bareilly recorded visibility of 25 and 50 respectively on Monday at 5:30 am.
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In Punjab, Bhatinda recorded zero visibility while Amritsar recorded it at 25m. Visibility at Chandigarh was zero, while Ambala and Hissar recorded the same at 25, and 50m respectively.
On Sunday, a blinding layer of fog over north India and eastern parts of the country affected the schedule of over 480 trains and over 25 flights on Sunday even as an intense cold wave walloped the plains, including Delhi, where the minimum temperature plunged to a numbing 1.9 degrees Celsius.
The cold snap, which is straining power grids and posing challenges to the homeless and animals, prompted the Delhi government to extend winter vacation in schools till January 15.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an "orange" alert for certain parts of north India, including Delhi, for Monday, warning that dense fog, cold day and cold wave conditions would persist.
A senior IMD meteorologist said short-term relief is likely after a couple of days under the influence of back-to-back western disturbances.
"Cold wave and cold day conditions over northwest India (are) likely to abate after 48 hours. Dense to very dense fog conditions over many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (are likely) during the next 48 hours and decrease in intensity and distribution thereafter," the IMD said in a statement.
(with PTI inputs)
