Fog Disrupts Air, Rail Services as Indian Capital Shivers

NEW DELHI (NNN-Xinhua) -- Dense fog continued to play havoc for the third day in a row this week on Friday in the Indian capital, disrupting air and train services this morning even as the city shivered at 4.5 degree celsius, local officials said.

"At least 40 flights have been affected. While 30 flights have delayed taking off from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, at least five international flights could take land due to dense fog. Five domestic flights were canceled as the runway visibility was 150 meters," said an aviation official.

Similarly, train services have also been disrupted, with more than 30 trains reported to be running late, an Indian Railways officials said.

Meanwhile, the Indian capital continued to shiver with the minimum temperature dropping to 4.5 degree Celsius.

Other parts of north India also continued to be in the grip of a severe cold wave, said meteorological officials.

Local TV channels reported that in the neighboring state of Rajasthan, temperatures have fallen by four to six degrees celsius in the past 48 hours and the state government has instructed schools not to open before 10 a.m. local time. -- NNN-Xinhua