Dense fog disrupts air travel in Delhi, 30 flights delayed

Adverse weather conditions, specifically dense fog and reduced visibility levels, caused disruptions in flight operations at Delhi International Airport on Tuesday (December 26).

Officials at the airport said that approximately 30 flights, comprising both domestic and international routes, experienced delays in both arrivals and departures.

The weather impact was particularly noticeable on Tuesday morning, with a thick layer of fog blanketing the Delhi-NCR region.

The India Meteorological Department reported a drop in temperature to around 7 degrees Celsius in Delhi.

Dense fog enveloped various parts of Delhi-NCR, including landmarks such as India Gate, Sarai Kale Khan, AIIMS, Akshardham, Safdarjung, and Anand Vihar. Additionally, the fog affected areas in Uttar Pradesh, specifically Moradabad and Kanpur.

These weather-related challenges led to inconvenience for travelers, affecting a significant number of flights at the Delhi international airport.

According to sources cited by news agency ANI, more flights are expected to face disruptions throughout the day due to the prevailing fog conditions. To mitigate potential inconveniences, the airport issued an advisory, urging passengers to verify the status of their flights with the respective airlines.

This follows disruptions in flight operations on Monday in cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, where dense fog impaired visibility in certain regions of these states.

Visibility in Delhi and its nearby regions was measured at 500 meters or less, with Palam recording 100 meters and Safdarjung recording 200 meters at 5:30 am.

On the Delhi-Meerut Highway in Ghaziabad, visibility dropped to as low as 200 to 300 meters. Fog alerts were displayed along the highway to caution commuters.

Additionally, visibility reached zero in Amritsar and Patiala in Punjab, while in Ambala, Haryana, visibility also plummeted to zero.

The impact of the fog extends beyond air travel, with reports indicating that 14 trains in the Northern Zone of the Indian Railways are affected due to low visibility and fog.