Rains bring respite from fog in Delhi, 68 trains affected (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI - Light rainfall Tuesday added to the chill in the capital but helped partially disperse the heavy fog and improve flight operations at Delhi airport. Rail services continued to be hit with 68 trains affected. The weatherman has predicted a foggy Wednesday.

“There is a western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir, because of which Delhi witnessed light rainfall this (Tuesday) morning,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official told IANS.

“Heavy fog will continue tomorrow (Wednesday). Wednesday morning visibility will be very low,” said the official.

“The skies will remain cloudy through the day with a possibility of more rain in the later part. There will be more rains till Dec 31,” he said.

The maximum temperature recorded Tuesday was 15.2 degrees Celsius, seven notches below the average. The minimum was recorded at 7.4 degrees Celsius, average for this time of the year.

The rain early in the day eased the intense fog conditions and improved visibility, the official added.

Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were normal as the visibility levels were better than the last three days when many international and domestic flights were either diverted or cancelled, an airport official said.

“From late evening of Dec 27 flight operations were affected by fog. Low Visibility Procedures were enforced from 10 p.m. Monday and terminated at 7.50 am Tuesday,” a statement issued by Delhi airport officials said.

However, rail services from and to the capital remained disrupted.

According to a railway spokesperson, 68 trains were affected by the fog and the Gujjar stir in Bayana in Rajasthan.

Of these, 19 trains were re-scheduled and 11, including the Janta Express, the Ujjain Express and the Janshatabdi, were cancelled.

Thirty-eight trains, including the Katihar Express, the Golden Temple Express and the Rajdhani coming from Jammu Tavi, were delayed between two hours to 52 hours. The Garib Rath coming from Bandra in Mumbai was delayed by 52 hours.

Mahima Sharma, who had to go to Pathankot, Punjab, with her teenaged son, said her train was running two hours late. “I had to visit an ailing relative at Doraha and it was useless going back. I have no other option but to wait at the station,” she said.

Tarif, a passenger of the Taj Express, was annoyed over the confusion due to delays. “The dislocation of trains spelt misery for thousands of passengers stranded at railway stations,” he told IANS.

Though none of the flights were delayed or cancelled Tuesday, many fliers opted for trains after witnessing the chaos at the airport in the last few days.

Amit Sahgal, who opted for a train journey after seeing the confusion at the airport earlier in the week, was disappointed. He waited for over four hours at the railway station.

“My Delhi-Mumbai train was delayed by four hours. I cancelled my flight since there were many delays at airport, and now have to wait here in the cold at the overcrowded station,” he said.

The Delhi traffic police have also issued an advisory for motorists driving in dense fog.

“If the fog is very thick, it is best to pull over somewhere safe and wait for the fog to go,” said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).