Fog disrupts road, rail, air traffic

Dense fog and biting cold continued disturbing routine life in plains of Punjab on Sunday and again disrupted the flights schedule at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and train operations, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The TV channel reported Punjab plains were also engulfed by the thick fog amid less visibility. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said cold and dry weather is likely to prevail over most plain areas of the country, while cloudy weather conditions with light rain (snowfall over hills) are expected at isolated places in Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Flights schedule 

Heavy fog also disrupted flight operations at the Lahore Airport early Sunday with six flights cancelled and eight delayed as visibility on the runway was reduced to 800 metres which later reached 1500 meters.

The TV channel reported that the following flights were cancelled: PA410 to Najaf Iraq via Dubai, Flight 342 to Najaf, Flight PA306 from Karachi, and Flight PK307 to Karachi. Following flights are delayed: Etihad Airline PK-243 from Abu Dhabi, Flight PK304 from Karachi, Turkish Airline TR714 from Istanbul and Serene Air Airline flight 520.

Train operation

Amid the dense fog in different parts of the country, train operation has also disturbed. Trains coming from Karachi and Quetta to Lahore were delayed for hours. The Tezgam train is delayed for three hours and ten minutes. Awam Express was delayed by two hours and forty-five minutes. Jafar Express and Allama Iqbal Express were delayed by two and a half hours. 

Shah Hussain and Karachi Express delayed by two hours, Pak business delayed for an hour and a half while Karakoram Express delayed by one hour and twenty minutes and Green Line, Shalimar, Farid Express, Khyber Mail delayed by one hour.

The fog has also started in Dunyapur and Arifwala cities and its suburbs since last night and Due people's routine lives are being badly affected.

The Met Department predicted that cloudy weather conditions with rain (snowfall over hills) is expected in Islamabad, Potohar region, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and north Balochistan. Cold and dry weather is expected elsewhere in the country on Monday (tomorrow). Fog is likely to prevail in central and southern districts of Punjab during morning hours on Monday.

In last 24 hours (Saturday) rain occurred in: (rainfall mm): Kalam 02 and Skardu 01 while Lowest Minimum Temperature’s (°C): Parachinar, Leh -06°C, Gupis, Skardu, Kalam -02°C, Astore, Bagrote and Ziarat -01°C.