The industrial city of Ludhiana in Punjab came to a virtual standstill on Friday morning after being enveloped by a thick blanket of very dense fog. The severe conditions prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the district, urging government agencies to take immediate action to safeguard road, rail, and air travel.
Visibility Plummets, Disrupting Morning Chaos
By 8:30 AM, the situation reached its peak as visibility in Ludhiana plummeted to a mere 50 meters, categorizing the fog as 'very dense'. This drastic reduction brought early morning transit to a near-standstill, with residents reporting significant delays and perilous driving conditions during the crucial rush hour. The red alert served as a direct signal for authorities to implement risk-mitigating measures across all transportation networks.
A Day of Fluctuating Haze
The fog's intensity varied throughout Friday as sunlight struggled to penetrate the haze. Following the 50-meter visibility at 8:30 AM, conditions saw a gradual improvement:
- 11:30 AM: Visibility increased to 500 meters (moderate fog).
- 2:30 PM: Further improvement to 800 meters (shallow fog).
- 5:30 PM: The day ended with visibility at 1,500 meters, though a general haze persisted.
Despite the foggy start, the maximum daytime temperature climbed to 19.2°C, marking a 2.4-degree rise from Thursday. However, it remained 1.8 degrees below the seasonal average. Notably, the minimum temperature settled at 10.6°C, which is 4.1 degrees above the normal for this time of year.
Commuters Bear the Brunt of Low Visibility
The logistical challenges caused by the poor visibility were widespread and deeply felt by the city's residents. Simrandeep Singh, a local, highlighted the stress of the morning school run, stating it took significantly longer than usual to drop his children off. "Driving in this weather is incredibly risky because you simply cannot see far enough ahead to react," he explained, echoing the concerns of many commuters.
What's Next? The Five-Day Weather Outlook
The IMD has not issued any further alerts for Ludhiana in the immediate days ahead, forecasting a gradual clearance of the skies. The outlook for the city is as follows:
December 20 to 21: The weather department predicts partly cloudy skies with maximum temperatures hovering around 17°C.
December 22 to 24: Skies are expected to become mainly clear. A notable drop in night temperatures is forecast, potentially reaching as low as 7°C by Wednesday, December 24th.
For context, the IMD classifies fog as 'moderate' when visibility is between 200 to 500 meters, 'dense' for 50 to 200 meters, and 'very dense' when road vision is restricted to less than 50 meters.
