Delhi: Severe fog enveloped Delhi and large parts of the National Capital Region on Friday, bringing air traffic to a near standstill and forcing airlines to cancel a large number of flights amid sharply reduced visibility.
Airport sources said more than 150 flights are scheduled to be scrapped over the course of the day, including dozens of inbound and outbound services. Many other flights are facing long delays as operations continue under CAT III conditions, which are required during extremely poor visibility.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has been issuing frequent public advisories, asking travellers to remain in touch with airlines for real-time updates. Carriers such as IndiGo and Air India have also cautioned passengers that fog-related disruptions could continue through the day.
Visibility across Delhi-NCR, including satellite cities like Noida and Ghaziabad, dipped to less than 100 metres in several pockets during the early hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the region under a yellow alert, warning of dense fog during morning hours.
Adding to commuters’ woes, air pollution levels surged once again. The city’s overall Air Quality Index hovered close to the “severe” mark, with multiple monitoring stations recording readings above 400, indicating hazardous conditions.
Weather data showed that Thursday marked the coldest day of December so far in the capital, with daytime temperatures dropping below seasonal averages. Despite the chill, the IMD noted that Delhi has not yet experienced a formal cold wave this winter, as night temperatures remain slightly above normal.
Foggy conditions have also impacted other parts of north India. Authorities in Uttar Pradesh issued alerts for the next two days, prompting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to order strict enforcement of speed limits on highways and urban roads to reduce the risk of accidents. Vehicles violating speed restrictions will face penalties.
Meteorologists expect brief improvement in visibility on Saturday, but have warned that dense fog is likely to return on Sunday and Monday. Minimum temperatures across northwest India are forecast to remain steady over the next 24 hours, followed by a gradual rise in the days ahead.
