Delhi shivers on coldest day in five years

NEW DELHI - Delhiites Sunday shivered through the coldest day in five years when the maximum temperature plunged 10 degrees below average and icy winds made it even harsher for the people.

Several flights were delayed at the Delhi airport due to fog. Low visibility procedures (LVP) had to be deployed through Saturday night, according to an official.

The weatherman has predicted the chill and fog to prevail in the days ahead.

It has been the coldest day not only of this season but also in the last five years. The cold north-westerly winds from the Himalayas coupled with the heavy fog cover that obstructed the sunrays are causing this chill, an official at the India Meteorological department (IMD) said.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 11 degrees and the minimum at 5 degrees, which was two notches below the average.

The bone-freezing chill forced many to remain indoors while those who dared to go out were seen wrapped in layers of woolens.

For the shelterless pavement dwellers, the only solace was bonfires under trees and in open parks.

I had to attend morning classes at an institute near my home and took the bike. I could not write for almost 20 minutes as my fingers had gone numb, Rishabh Ahuja, a college student, told IANS.

The dense fog and cloud cover also raised the humidity levels to a high of 100 percent and a low of 79 percent, the official added.

There will be mist in the morning Monday and the maximum and minimum temperature will be around 12 and 6 degrees Celsius, he said.