A dense cover of fog shrouds the Patna Junction area on Monday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Dec. 12: Those wondering where the cold was this winter got their answer today. It was right here.

The minimum temperature for the day in the capital was recorded at 11ºCelsius, which made it the coldest morning so far this season. The dip in mercury was accompanied by fog that enveloped the entire city.

Weather experts claimed that Patna was yet to witness the cold wave conditions, as the fog is preventing the minimum temperature to dip by more than 5ºCelsius from the expected minimum temperature.

“The minimum temperature recorded in the city today was 11ºCelsius, which is the lowest minimum temperature till date this season. The lowest minimum temperature in Bihar today was recorded in Gaya, which stood at 10.1ºCelsius. There is a fog shield prevailing over Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This condition is likely to prevail for the next two to three days. Wind speed would remain around 2km to 5km per hour. The moisture content in the morning air would hover around 90 to 100 per cent,” said Animesh Chanda, the director of Patna Met department.

The fog blanket led to poor visibility, which hit the air traffic hard. Flights were allowed to land only after 2.30pm. Kingfisher cancelled its Delhi-bound flight (IT-3347) owing to the dismal weather condition.

Since most of the morning flights were delayed by over four hours, hundreds of passengers were seen stranded at the airport.

“My Delhi-bound IndiGo flight was scheduled to depart at 2pm. But the airline officials told me that the flight would depart after 5pm. I had an important meeting in Delhi at 6pm but by no means will I be able to attend it. I am disgusted with the flight operation from Patna airport during the winter,” said Amit Verma, a resident of the state capital.

Considering the frequent delay in flight operation in the past few days, Air India today announced to reschedule the timing of its two flights from December 15 till January 31, 2012.

The AI-409 (Delhi-Patna-Delhi) would arrive at Patna airport at 11.45am and depart at 12.20pm. The AI-415 (Delhi-Patna-Delhi) would arrive at Patna airport at 4.15pm and depart at 4.45pm. Moreover, the flight AI-407/408 would remain suspended during this period. As of now, the flight arrives at Patna airport at 1.10pm and departs at 1.50pm.

Monday being the first day of the week, most residents of the capital had to bear the chill and the fog onslaught on their way to workstations.

“My family was enjoying television shows the entire Sunday sitting inside the house. But today, children had to be forced to go to school wearing pullovers and mufflers. I also checked my appointment schedule for the day and left for the office almost shivering at 11am,” said Saurav Banka, a city-based trader.