Heavy fog reduced visibility to 25 metres in some areas as Delhi was hit by a cold snap. Reuters
Heavy fog reduced visibility to 25 metres in some areas as Delhi was hit by a cold snap. Reuters
Heavy fog reduced visibility to 25 metres in some areas as Delhi was hit by a cold snap. Reuters
Heavy fog reduced visibility to 25 metres in some areas as Delhi was hit by a cold snap. Reuters

Delhi shrouded in dense fog as temperatures plummet


Taniya Dutta
  • English
  • Arabic

Indian capital Delhi was shrouded in a dense fog on Monday as a cold wave gripped the city, with temperatures dropping below 4°C.

Visibility was only 25 metres in some areas, affecting traffic movement. Poor visibility in Palam, near the city’s international airport, delayed a dozen flights.

The airport authority and airlines advised passengers of dense fog that might affect flight operations, and asked them to contact airlines for flight information.

The dense fog also affected the country’s railway network, which carries about 23 million passengers daily.

As many as 30 trains were running late in northern India on Monday.

Homeless people, among the most affected by the drop in temperature, could be seen huddled on street corners burning large bonfires to keep themselves warm.

Dozens of people including patients seeking treatment at Delhi's AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals are forced to sleep on pavements in the cold. Taniya Dutta / The National
Dozens of people including patients seeking treatment at Delhi's AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals are forced to sleep on pavements in the cold. Taniya Dutta / The National

The Delhi government has extended winter school holidays until January 15.

India's weather department declares a cold wave when the minimum temperature is less than 4°C.

The city recorded 1.9°C on Sunday — the second-lowest minimum temperature since 2008.

Delhi’s neighbouring states have also been reeling under severe cold. Thick fog has extended from northern Punjab, adjoining north-west Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh and eastern Bihar.

Punjab's Bhatinda town had zero visibility due to dense fog.

Labourers cross railway tracks amid heavy fog. Reuters
Labourers cross railway tracks amid heavy fog. Reuters

The India Meteorological Department has issued an “orange” alert for certain parts of north India, including Delhi, for at least two days.

“Due to the continuation of prevailing light winds and high moisture near the surface over the Indo-Gangetic plains, dense to very dense fog is very likely to continue in some parts during the night and morning hours over Delhi during the next two days and dense fog in isolated pockets thereafter for the subsequent three days over the region,” it said.

Several other northern states have announced school holidays for their students.

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs

UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv

Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium

Results

6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar

7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed Dh250,000 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.50pm The Entisar Listed Dh250,000 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson

9.25pm The Garhoud Listed Dh250,000 1,200m Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

10pm Handicap Dh160,000 1,600m Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

Kalra's feat
  • Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
  • Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
  • Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
  • Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
New process leads to panic among jobseekers

As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.  

“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.

Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE. 

“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.

“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”

Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team

Several girls started playing football at age four

They describe sport as their passion

The girls don’t dwell on their condition

They just say they may need to work a little harder than others

When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters

The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams

Coal Black Mornings

Brett Anderson

Little Brown Book Group 

Five films to watch

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Only Yesterday (1991)

Pom Poki (1994)

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)

Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg

Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD

Isle of Dogs

Director: Wes Anderson

Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson

Three stars

Sting & Shaggy

44/876

(Interscope)

Brief scores:

Scotland 371-5, 50 overs (C MacLeod 140 no, K Coetzer 58, G Munsey 55)

England 365 all out, 48.5 overs (J Bairstow 105, A Hales 52; M Watt 3-55)

Result: Scotland won by six runs

FIXTURES

New Zealand v France, second Test
Saturday, 12.35pm (UAE)
Auckland, New Zealand

South Africa v Wales
Sunday, 12.40am (UAE), San Juan, Argentina

Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

Blonde
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What is graphene?

Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.

It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.

It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.

It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.

Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.

The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.

Updated: January 09, 2023, 9:57 AM