Asia-Pacific
Fog disrupts air, rail services in New Delhi
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-27 15:50
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 Labourers work at a construction site amid heavy fog near the airport in New Delhi Dec 27, 2010. At least 6 people died over the weekend due to the cold weather in the north of the country, according to local media reports. [Photo/Agencies] |
NEW DELHI - A thick layer of dense fog blanketed the Indian capital for the second day in a row on Monday, severely disrupting air and rail services to and from the city, transport officials said.
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Fog began descending on the airport around 20:00 Sunday night and gradually became dense. The low visibility procedure has been implemented by the airport authorities.
Similarly, over 60 trains to and from the national capital have been rescheduled or delayed due to fog which has reduced the visibility levels to 50 meters on the rail tracks, an Indian Railways official said, pleading anonymity.
"The Bhopal Shatabdi, Amritsar Shatabdi, Seemanchal Express and Taj Express have been rescheduled. Some 55 trains are running late due to fog. Some trains are even canceled due to an agitation by Gujjar community in neighboring state of Rajasthan," he said.
The Indian Meteorological Department has said that dense foggy conditions would continue for a couple of more days in the Indian capital.
Some 100 flights and over 20 trains were affected due to dense fog on Sunday.
Fog is common in northern India in winter time, with the Indian capital having entered its coldest season with the minimum temperature staying around six degrees Celsius in the night and early morning.