Extreme Fog and Cold Grips City, Disrupts Life

Normal life was significantly disrupted on Thursday as dense fog reduced visibility to just a few meters, severely impacting rail movement. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for very dense fog and an orange alert for Friday, signaling that the adverse weather conditions are expected to continue. This severe fog was accompanied by a sharp 6.3-degree Celsius drop in maximum temperature, bringing it to 16.8 degrees Celsius, significantly below normal.

The plummeting temperatures and dense fog prompted a public health advisory from local authorities. The advisory warned of increased risks for hypothermia and respiratory illnesses, especially among the elderly, infants, and those working outdoors. It stressed the importance of staying warm, consuming hot food and beverages, and exercising caution with heating devices to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Rail services faced substantial delays, with at least eight trains arriving over an hour late and fourteen delayed by 30 minutes or more. Looking ahead, a western disturbance is forecast to affect northern India, potentially bringing some rainfall to Punjab by Saturday, which might offer a slight respite from the persistent fog.