Amid a cold wave prevailing in parts of northern India, Safdarjung in Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 1.9 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday. This is the second-lowest temperature in the last 10 years. Aya Nagar, also in Delhi, recorded a minimum temperature of 2.6 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road recorded 2.8 degrees Celsius and Palam 5.2 degrees Celsius, the IMD added. A thick layer of fog covered the national capital on Sunday morning lowering visibility. The Delhi government advised all private schools to remain closed till 15 January due to the cold wave. “In continuation to the DOE’s (Directorate of Education) earlier circular, all private schools of Delhi are advised to remain close till January 15, 2023, in the wake of cold wave prevailing in Delhi,” the circular read. The IMD on Saturday issued the red alert for the next 24 to 48 hours (till today), warning of severe cold conditions in parts of north India, including Delhi. As per IMD, “A severe cold wave is still prevailing in most places of Delhi, and it is recording very low temperatures for the last four days in the area.” IMD senior scientist told news agency that the dense fog also intensified in Delhi in recent days and yesterday at IGI airport severe fog remained from 2:30 am to 11:30 am, making it the longest fog of the season. Delhiites will get a respite from the icy grip of winter as dense fog and cold wave, holding sway on Delhi-NCR and parts of north India, will abate from upcoming Tuesday, January 10, IMD said. “Tonight there will be a cold to severe cold wave over Delhi and the temperature will be around 3-4 degrees, some stations may record it as 2 degrees but from January 10 there will be no dense fog, no cold wave, maybe isolated fog will prevail but the cold wave will go,” IMD senior scientist RK Jenamani said.
