Dense fog engulfs New Delhi, Punjab, Northwest Rajasthan to East UP, several trains and flights delayed

Fog envelopes India Gate in New Delhi. Dense Fog engulfed the Indo-Gangetic plains, including Delhi, for the third morning on the trot on Wednesday, lowering visibility in the national capital and affecting traffic movement.

The visibility dropped to 500 metres at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) at 5.30am. "Flights are being diverted or are returning to Delhi due to bad weather in Chandigarh, Varanasi, and Lucknow," stated the advisory issued for flyers by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Wednesday.

Around 20 trains were delayed due to the thick fog and low visibility that blanketed the national capital this morning at the New Delhi Railway Station.

Commuters make their way amid dense fog in Amritsar, Punjab. "INSAT 3D Rapid Satellite imagery shows continuation of dense fog layer from Punjab & Northwest Rajasthan to East UP across Haryana. Gray circled cloud patch, over central parts of West UP, is Medium & High clouds associated with middle tropospheric level westerly," tweeted the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Tourists visit Taj Mahal amid dense fog, in Agra.

Devotees pay obeisance at the Golden Temple engulfed in dense fog, in Amritsar.

While sharing the lowest visibility report as per cities, the IMD said that visibility recorded 8.30am showed 25 metre visibility in Amritsar, Hissar, Ganganagar, Pantnagar, Bareilly, Bahraich, Gorakhpur while 50 metre visibility was reported at Ludhiana, Karnal, Churu, Varanasi, Patna, Purnea, Agartala and 200 meter visibility at Ambala, Bhiwani, Lucknow and Fursatganj.

The IMD has issued a 'cold wave' alert in many North Indian states. | Above: Children walk towards their school amid dense fog in Amritsar.

A drop in temperature has also been recorded in states of North India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Bihar.

Students paddle their bicycles on their way to school on a foggy morning, in Jalandhar.

The Golden Gate is engulfed with dense fog as the commuters ply underneath the gate in Amritsar.

People cross a railway track amid dense fog in Gurugram.

Vendors go about their work amid dense fog in Jalandhar.

A vegetable vendor rides his horse cart as he enters the wholesale vegetable market amid dense fog in Amritsar.

Delhi Police patrolling the Vijay Chowk amid dense fog in New Delhi.

Vehicles ply amid dense fog on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, in Gurugram.