Dense fog in three states including New Delhi; flight and rail services come to a standstill, holiday for schools

NEW DELHI: A red alert has been declared in Delhi and three North Indian states today due to dense fog. Apart from New Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and other states are on red alert. The officials informed that around 100 flights arriving in the national capital will be delayed.

The airport authorities had informed the other day that around 100 flights arriving at the domestic and international airports would be delayed. About 43 flights that were supposed to depart from the international airport were delayed. Meantime, the railways informed that the train services will also be delayed. 22 trains were running late the other day and this has severely affected the passengers.

Reports are that there is less fog in the capital today and improvement in air quality. The air quality index (AQI) is 356. The weather department has also informed that the air quality will worsen the next two days. According to the report issued by the Meteorological Department last day, heavy fog will be felt in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and northwestern parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Meteorologists said that there is a possibility of heavy fog in Haryana, Punjab and other states in the next five days. The Road Transport Corporation has issued guidelines to deal with traffic disruption in Uttar Pradesh during heavy fog.

Meantime, schools in Noida, Greater Noida and Gautam Budh Nagar remain closed for the next two days due to dense fog. The district administration has ordered schools to be closed on December 29 and 30. Teachers and other staff will work. Meanwhile, six people were killed and 12 injured in two separate road accidents in Uttar Pradesh due to the fog.