Delhi faced dense fog on Saturday morning with temperatures at 10.2°C, slightly higher than the previous day, as many homeless sought shelter due to

Delhi and several North Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, are experiencing severe cold waves with dense fog. The capital’s air quality remains poor. Night shelters offer refuge to the homeless as temperatures plummet.

As Delhi and other North Indian states witnessed intermittent rainfall in the last 48 hours, the India Meteorological Department predicted a significant drop in minimum temperatures across several regions of the country.

A severe cold wave has enveloped North India, with Delhi experiencing its coldest temperatures in years. The India Meteorological Department reports significant drops in temperatures, prompting shelters for the homeless and gatherings around bonfires as residents brace for the chill.

Airlines advised travellers to verify flight schedules before planning their journeys, cautioning that flights could be cancelled if visibility does not improve.

Dense fog is common at this time of the year in Delhi and other parts of northern India, as the region grapples with an intense cold wave. Photos and videos showed several cities shrouded in dense mist and haze.

Power demand in the country has shot up in the past few weeks amid plummeting temperatures across North India. Peak power demand in December remained largely above 200GW and touched a high of 224GW due to increased demand for heating. With projections of the cold wave continuing in January, the demand is expected to remain elevated.

A dense fog accompanied by a cold wave disrupted travel across North India, affecting flights, trains, and road traffic. Over 360 flights were delayed, 60 were cancelled at Delhi Airport, and causing widespread inconvenience.