Thick smoke from an intense forest fire engulfed Srinagar in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal district, causing significant delays in aerial firefighting operations by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The arrival of nearly two dozen passenger trains to the national capital was delayed by up to 6 hours or more, and several flights were also late due to fog and poor visibility conditions.
A special IndiGo flight, through which Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were going to travel to Manipur for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, was delayed due to fog and poor visibility conditions at Delhi Airport on Sunday morning.
As the cold wave tightened its grip on northern India, the air quality dipped to the 'severe' category on the last day of the year, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data on Sunday.
UPSRTC officials said that buses should not operate in case of poor visibility due to fog. The corporation also advised operators to park buses at safe locations and wait until visibility improves.
The air quality in several areas of Delhi remained in the severe category on Saturday as a thick toxic smog engulfed the city, resulting in poor visibility.
"Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning likely at isolated places on 18. 09. 2023 over plains, low and mid hills of the state. Damage may occur to standing crops, fruit plants, new plantings and poor visibility. Traffic congestion and disruption in electric supply," said the Met Depa
"Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms & lightning are likely at isolated places on 16.09.2023 over plains, low and mid hills of the state. Damage may occur to standing crops, fruit plants, new plantings and poor visibility. Traffic congestion and disruption in electric supply," Meteorologica