Flights, trains disrupted; Delhi to see more fog likely on Monday
New Delhi: Even as a thick fog enveloped the city on Sunday morning and disrupted flight operations for over three hours, the weather office has predicted dense fog on Monday morning with temperature expected to fall further to five degrees Celsius.
Flight operations were affected at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport here between 7.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. with visibility dropping to below 50 metres. The low visibility delayed around 200 flights with over 40 flights diverted to other airports and several cancelled.
Even as flight operations resumed at around 11 a.m., the three-hour delay led to bunching up of flights which took hours to clear up.
At least 15 trains were also cancelled, 57 delayed and 18 rescheduled due to fog in several parts of northern India.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said there would be dense fog on Monday morning as well with mist or shallow fog during the day.
"The minimum temperature on Monday would fall to five degrees Celsius from 6.4 degrees Celsius recorded Sunday," an official said.
The maximum temperature on Monday would hover around 23 degrees Celsius, the official said.
On Sunday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 23.9 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average while the minimum temperature was recorded a notch below the season's average at 6.4 degrees Celsius.
According to IMD, the mercury will start falling from January 1 with cold winds expected from the snow-covered mountains in the north.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
