North India remained gripped by a severe cold wave on Thursday, with dense fog enveloping Delhi. The city’s airport issued a warning about low visibility, though it assured passengers that no flights were impacted by the fog.
At 7 am, visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport was reported to be just 500 meters. The airport confirmed that flights equipped with CAT III systems, designed to safely land in low-visibility conditions, were not impacted by the fog.
Temperature to Drop Further
Temperatures are forecasted to drop further starting December 27, with a noticeable dip in chill expected by December 29, according to leading meteorologists cited by news agency PTI.
18 trains heading to Delhi, including the Duronto Express and Avadh Assam Express, have been delayed due to dense fog. Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category, with temperatures expected to range between a minimum of 9°C and a maximum of 20°C.
The IMD has forecast light showers in the Delhi-NCR region later today, with rainfall and thunderstorms expected on December 27 and 28. Additionally, thunderstorms and hailstorms are predicted across Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh during the same period.
In its Wednesday morning advisory, Delhi airport warned that flights not equipped with CAT III systems may be affected, urging passengers to contact airlines for updated flight information. IndiGo also advised passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport.
CAT III refers to a category of aircraft landing system that enables planes to land safely in low visibility conditions. The categories I, II, and III represent varying levels of precision instrument approaches, with each category designed for specific visibility and decision height conditions.
Visuals from the Dwarka Expressway in Delhi showed near-zero visibility, while other parts of the city, along with nearby areas of Ghaziabad, Noida, and Gurugram, were also shrouded in dense haze.
What is CAT III Category?
CAT III, or Category III, is a classification of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) used in aviation, allowing aircraft to land safely in extremely low visibility conditions like dense fog or darkness. This system plays a crucial role in improving flight safety and operational efficiency, particularly at busy airports.
