Flight and rail services in India’s capital city of New Delhi faced major disruptions on Tuesday morning as dense fog blanketed the region, reducing visibility to as low as 50 metres (164 feet) in some areas.
The India Meteorological Department reported “very dense fog” in the city, where the temperature plummeted to 9 degrees Celsius (48 degrees Fahrenheit). The weather department further cautioned that “dense to very dense fog” was expected to persist in certain areas until Wednesday.
The fog, containing particulate matter and pollutants, raised concerns about its potential impact on the health of New Delhi’s 20 million residents, according to the weather department. The air quality index for the city recorded a reading of 376 on Tuesday morning, categorising it as “very poor.” Levels from 0 to 50 are considered good.
The dense fog led to delays in at least 30 flights at the Delhi airport, affecting both domestic and international routes. The disruptions were confirmed by media reports. Additionally, approximately 14 trains operating in North India experienced delays and disturbances due to the fog.
“While landings and takeoffs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected,” warned the Indira Gandhi International Airport on the social media platform X. CAT III is a navigation system that enables aircraft to land safely even in low visibility conditions.
Airlines such as SpiceJet utilised social media platforms to inform passengers about potential disruptions in departures and arrivals from New Delhi due to adverse weather conditions.
The impact of the dense fog wasn’t limited to New Delhi alone, as other parts of North India, including states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, reported similar weather conditions on Tuesday morning. Temperatures in these areas ranged between 6 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit to 50 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the weather department.
As the dense fog persists, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents and travellers to exercise caution and stay updated on the latest developments through official channels. The disruptions highlight the challenges posed by severe weather conditions on the efficient operation of transportation services in the region.