Cold Wave, Dense Fog Grip Delhi & Adjoining States; Schools in Noida, Gr Noida Shut Till Jan 6

Delhiites continued to experience bone-chilling cold weather as the temperature in the national capital further dropped to 7.4 degrees Celsius. While dense fog engulfed the city again on Wednesday, leading to delay in operations of at least 26 trains.

Reportedly, the temperature in the Delhi Ridge area early on Tuesday was the lowest of the season. People around the national capital and the adjoining areas were seen sitting by bonfires to keep themselves warm in this ice-cold winter weather.

Meanwhile, armed defence and security personnel continued practicing early morning for the upcoming Republic Day parade.

According to the India Meteorological Department, moderate to dense fog cover was visible over Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, adjoining east Rajasthan, central parts of Uttar Pradesh, south Assam and Tripura.

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• Due to the foggy conditions, at least 26 trains approaching Delhi are running late.
• The temperature in the national capital dipped further — 7.4 degrees Celsius — leaving people to struggle with the cold wave and thick blankets of fog.
• The temperature recorded in the Delhi Ridge area on Tuesday, reportedly, was the lowest of the season.
• Layers of fog continued to grip the national capital, while also disrupting train operations, especially those passing through or approaching Delhi.
• According to IMD, moderate to dense fog cover was visible over Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh adjoining East Rajasthan, Central parts of Uttar Pradesh, south Assam and Tripura.
• The fog cover late on Tuesday evening severely affected visibility in some areas, with UP’s Bareilly recording the lowest at 25 metres.
• Administrations in UP’s Noida and Greater Noida ordered schools for students up to class 8 to be shut till January 6 due to the cold wave conditions.
• The air quality index (AQI) in the national capital remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Wednesday as well. Delhi’s AQI on Tuesday was recorded at 346.
• Day temperatures in Kanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Meerut, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra and Meerut divisions among others remained much below the normal limits.
• Meanwhile, cold weather conditions along with dense fog led to the formation of a thin layer of ice over the Dal Lake in Kashmir’s Srinagar.
• Residents of the lake, who live in houseboats, had a hard time breaking the ice layer while roving the boats towards the banks. Water supply pipes have also frozen in several areas of Kashmir due to the extreme cold weather.

(With PTI inputs)