Delhi woke up today in a kind of deep winter mood, one that many of us haven’t really seen for a while. The national capital recorded its coldest night in almost three years, with the temperature dropping to a chilling 2.9 degrees Celsius early Thursday morning at Safdarjung, which is the city’s main weather station. This was just slightly warmer than January 2023, when the temperature had fallen even lower during a similar cold wave.
People walking on the roads were seen covering almost their entire faces to protect themselves from the biting cold. Traffic moved slowly across many areas because very dense fog reduced visibility to almost nothing in the early morning hours. According to weather officials, this fog is not expected to clear anytime soon and is likely to stay during night and morning hours till January 16. In some isolated areas, foggy conditions may even continue till January 19.
It wasn’t only the low temperature that troubled people, but also the thick fog that made daily travel difficult. In several places, vehicles were forced to switch on headlights even after sunrise as drivers struggled to see beyond a few metres. At the airport, some flights were delayed as pilots waited for better visibility before takeoff and landing. Offices and schools also felt the impact, with many people arriving late, wrapped in jackets, shawls and heavy woollens, trying their best to stay warm.
This sudden drop in temperature is part of a larger cold wave affecting northern India. The cold has been stronger than what most residents expected for this time of the winter season. Nearby Gurugram also recorded a sharp fall in temperature, with early morning readings touching around 0.8 degrees Celsius, much lower than the previous day.
Weather officials said that while temperatures may rise slightly in the coming days, mornings will continue to remain cold and foggy for now. For many people in Delhi, this intense chill brings back memories of old winters with hot chai, warm breakfasts and crowded buses, but it also raises concern for elderly people and children who are more vulnerable during extreme cold conditions.
