Delhi fog causes 22 flights, 24 trains to be cancelled (Third Lead)

Poor visibility caused by dense fog in the national capital on Friday led to cancellation of 22 flights and 24 trains. It was the season's first dense fog.

Weather forecasting agencies have said similar conditions would prevail on Saturday with the fog likely to create more problems in the operation of flights and trains.

"The operation of 22 flights was cancelled from and to Delhi due to the dense fog. Apart from that, operations of 212 flights were delayed from 15 to 20 minutes due to Delhi's weather," said a statement from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA)authorities.

The Northern Railway in a statement said that 24 trains were cancelled, 19 others were running late and one was rescheduled due to the fog which severely curtailed visibility.

General traffic in the national capital, however, remained largely unaffected and vehicular movement on the roads was reported to be usual and smooth.

According to Delhi Traffic Police helpline, only the Naraina flyover to Dhaula Kuan stretch witnessed slow traffic movement.

The maximum temperature in the national capital was recorded at 21.4 degrees celsius, two notches above the season's average.

The minimum temperature of the day was recorded at 12 degrees celsius, five notches above the season's average.

The Met Office has forecast a clear Saturday with the maximum and the minimum temperatures likely around 23 degrees and 8 degrees celsius after dense fog in the morning.

"There will be dense fog in the morning. Though the sky is likely to remain clear during the daytime, but fog is likely to return in the evening again," said an official of the India Meteorological Department.

Thursday's maximum temperature settled at 24.7 degrees Celsius, five notches above the season's average.