Dense fog covers Delhi-NCR, airport warns of disruptions due to zero visibility, AQI back in severe
IndiGo also issued a similar travel advisory for its passengers, saying flight departures and arrivals may be impacted if reduced visibility conditions persist due to foggy conditions across Delhi
New Delhi: A thick layer of fog enveloped Delhi and adjoining areas on Wednesday morning, leading to low visibility in several areas, affecting vehicular movement and disrupting flight operations at the airport.
The dense fog also pushed the air quality back into the "severe" category, with the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 407. The AQI hovered between 350 and 450 in most parts of the national capital, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to CPCB standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 to 100 "satisfactory", 101 to 200 "moderate", 201 to 300 "poor", 301 to 400 "very poor", and 401 to 500 "severe".
Weather forecast for Delhi-NCR on Dec 31 and Jan 1
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog on December 31. According to the weather office, light rain or drizzle is expected in several parts of the plains, including the capital, on January 1, which is likely to bring the temperature down.
"Partly cloudy sky. Moderate fog at many places with dense fog at few places during the morning hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to be in the ranges of 21 degrees Celsius to 23 degrees Celsius and 7 degrees Celsius to 9 degrees Celsius, respectively," the IMD said in its forecast for December 31.
For January 1, the MeT department predicted light rain in Delhi-NCR. "Partly cloudy sky. Possibility of very light to light rain at isolated places. Shallow to moderate fog during morning hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are likely to be in the ranges of 18 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius to 12 degrees Celsius respectively," the IMD said.
Fog disrupts flights, trains
Due to fog and low visibility, several flights at Delhi airport were cancelled or rescheduled. More than 100 trains running from or passing through New Delhi and its surrounding areas are also running late, while two trains have been diverted.
Meanwhile, the Delhi airport issued an advisory, saying that delays and cancellations are expected due to prevailing dense fog conditions. "Our ground teams are on site and actively assisting passengers to ensure a smooth travel experience," it said. The advisory further said that passengers should contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates. "We sincerely regret for any inconvenience caused," it added.
Airlines issue travel advisory
IndiGo issued a travel advisory for its passengers, saying flight departures and arrivals may be impacted if reduced visibility conditions persist due to foggy conditions across Delhi and several airports in northern India this morning
"We are closely monitoring the situation and are making operational adjustments wherever required to keep journeys moving as smoothly as possible," the airline said.
It also advised passengers to check their latest flight status before leaving for the airport. "As fog may also affect road traffic, keeping a little additional time in hand for your drive may help make your journey more comfortable," it added.
The airline further stated that if there are changes to any flights, timely updates will be shared with the registered contact details of the passengers. "Our teams remain attentive and ready to assist, and we will continue to keep you informed as conditions evolve. Here’s hoping for clearer skies soon," it added.
Air India also issued a similar advisory, warning travellers of delays and cancellations due to dense fog and low visibilty across Delhi and northern India. The airlines said that it "anticipates impacts on flight schedules and potential cascading delays across our network" due to adverse weather conditions.
The airline said it has informed passengers in advance about the planned cancellation of some morning flights due to fog, to avoid prolonged and uncertain wait at the airports.