Fog affects air, rail services in Delhi

Hundreds of passengers get stranded as a thick blanket of fog envelops the city and adjoining areas this morning.

Air and rail services to the capital were hit today as a thick blanket of fog enveloped the city and adjoining areas early this morning, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

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Air services at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were suspended this morning as Runway Visibility Range (RVR) dipped to below 50 metres at 7 am,  forcing suspension of flights.

"All domestic departures remained suspended in the early morning hours," an airport spokesman said.

At least two Delhi-bound international flights, that could not land at the IGIA, were diverted to Mumbai and Karachi.

President APJ Abdul Kalam's departure to Mumbai was also delayed due to the inclement weather.

The RVR had improved to 300 metres at 10:30 am and six Indian Airlines flights took off using the CAT III B Instrument Landing System. Six international flights - three arrivals and three departures - also operated from the IGIA.

Several train services coming to the capital were delayed due to dense fog in the eastern and northern parts of the country.

Delhiites woke up to a foggy and chilly morning with minimum temperatures dipping to 8.2 degrees celsius, which were normal for this period of the season.

At least two fog-related accidents were reported in the capital - a six-car pile up on the Delhi-Noida-Delhi flyway and another mishap in Chattarpur area of South Delhi.

There were no immediate reports on persons injured.