Cold wave and fog cause chaos in India

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had warned of very dense fog and cold weather conditions over northwest India that could last for upcoming days. The department had also warned of breathing issues in some vulnerable patients. Those people going through asthma and bronchitis ailments may suffer from shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. It has also predicted a tripping of power lines due to the weather conditions and other difficulties like vehicle collisions etc…

On Monday, a severe cold day was observed in New Delhi, the capital city. With the thick fog blanketing Delhi, the department forecasts “defense to very dense fog conditions across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to persist.”

Dense fog has already caused delays in rail and air travel in the country’s north, which is also experiencing a severe cold wave. The air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas remained poor, and IDM reported a minimum temperature of 1.9 degree Celsius in the Safdarjung neighborhood of Delhi. The city has been blanked by the heavy layer of fog on Monday morning.

Lower visibility has also hampered flight and train operations in northern parts of the country. Indian Northern Railway has confirmed 42 trains were delayed to New Delhi. Meanwhile, Delhi International Airport Limited said that severe fog may impede airport operations. “Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” it said in a statement.

Moreover, local broadcaster reported that poor weather caused disruption at Delhi airport, with over 140 flights delayed. Authorities in Delhi also asked schools to extend winter holidays and canceled classes.

Avoid outdoor activities

The Indian authorities also asked the people to avoid or limit outdoor activities until the weather conditions improve and called on the citizens to pay attention while driving through dense fog.

The harsh cold time could be expected to cause more health issues, especially in Delhi and winter season is particularly hard for India’s homeless population. These people are often sleeping beside the road and at railway stations, and on Sunday, Delhi had experienced the foggiest days so far this winter.

The foggy conditions also continued on Monday and the vehicles were seen driving slowly and carefully. Domestic airline IndiGo had said that flight timings were affected due to dense fog and poor visibility in Delhi, advising passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

To beat the cold, people were also seen huddled around large bonfires near gas stations and on street corners.

Flights diverted and trains canceled

On Monday, three flights were diverted to Jaipur instead of landing in Delhi due to very dense fog and low visibility. Two of the three flights that have been diverted are SpiceJet and one is Air India Express, WION reported, citing officials from Delhi airport.

Northern India is in the grip of a cold snap and heavy fog. Reuters

Meanwhile a total of 267 trains were canceled due to fog and other conditions. “Till 11am, a total of 170 trains were running late and out of 170 trains, 91 trains (54%) were running late due to weather conditions,” the Railways said in a statement, according to ANI.

Schools were also ordered to close until 15 January.

Nearly 100 people die

At least 98 people have died in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, owing to heart and brain strokes in the past five days.

At least six patients died while receiving treatment at the Institute of Heart Disease, and fourteen patients who had been suffering from a severe cold passed away from a heart attack. According to the Institute, eight other people were brought dead to the institute.

At the city’s SPS Heart Institute, 14 people died in the last 24 hours, according to WION. The doctors believe that the sudden blood pressure spikes brought on by the cold and blood clotting, are triggering heart and brain attacks. The patients were advised to protect themselves from the cold waves.

“Heart attacks in this cold weather are not restricted only to the elderly,” a faculty member at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow said, IANS reported.

He said that they have got cases when even teenagers have suffered heart attacks. “Everyone, irrespective of age, should keep warm and stay indoors as far as possible,” he suggested.

Three foreigners killed as bus hits truck amid fog

Three Nepalese citizens and one Indian “driver” were killed after a Nepal-bound bus rammed into a truck on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in the midst of a dense fog cover over Unnao in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

Another six passengers, including four Nepalese received injuries in the incident and were evacuated to the hospital. The bus was carrying 60 passengers and they were going from Rajkot in Gujarat to Nepal.

Additional Superintendent of Police Shashi Shekhar Singh said a blinding fog cover engulfed a large part of the state this morning, lowering the visibility considerably, according to the Telegraph Online.

Singh said that the bus hit the truck from behind on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway around 5.30 am.