Title - Road, rail traffic goes out of gear

Delhi on Friday saw the worst fog of the season, with the visibility remaining way below the normal range. The traffic was put off the gears, over 150 flights and 25 trains were affected because of the dense fog.

 The maximum temperature, however, remained three degrees above normal, the minimum was recorded at one notch below the normal temperature. The road and rail traffic were badly hit. While the city roads wore a deserted look during the morning hours, thousands of rail passengers were stranded for hours waiting for trains on the railway stations.

All major trains especially those coming from the eastern States like Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam and Odisha were the worst-affected. Some of the trains like Mahananda Express and Bhagalpur Garib Rath were running late by more than 24 hours.

According to the weather department, the Western Disturbance currently passing over Jammu & Kashmir and the southern winds flowing over Delhi and adjoining areas has resulted in the dense fog over the city. While the foggy condition is likely to improve in the next 48 hours, rainfall and squall is expected to make way into the city from Saturday onwards.

The maximum and minimum temperature on Friday oscillated between 24 and 7.6 degree Celsius. "With the rain likely to set in over the weekend, there will be a marginal fall in the maximum temperature and a marginal rise in the minimum temperature," said M Doraisuami, Director at the Regional Meteorological Department. The maximum and minimum temperature on Saturday is expected to be around 22 and nine degree Celsius.

The new Western Disturbance that is likely to enter India on Saturday will bring heavy snowfall in the regions of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Delhi and the adjoining areas are expected to receive rainfall and hailstorm. "The rainfall will last from February 2 to 6. A fall in the maximum temperature will be witnessed in these four days," added Doraisuami.

After the rain spell gets over, the cold winds from north Pakistan and Afghanistan will set in and a fall in the minimum temperature will take place. The minimum temperature however will fall upto five degree Celsius from February 7 to 10 and the maximum temperature will remain around 22 degree Celsius.