Dense fog has thrown travel plans into disarray in Delhi, India's capital, causing delays on numerous flights and trains.
According to reports, the hazy conditions have affected at least 20 trains and 50 flights. The flight tracking app Flightradar24 reveals that departing flights experienced an average delay of 25 minutes, while arrivals faced an eight-minute delay on average. Passengers stranded for hours at the airport have expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation.
The Delhi airport authorities responded to the challenging conditions by issuing a flight advisory on Monday, urging passengers to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight information. The advisory noted that while landings and take-offs continued at Delhi airport, flights not compliant with CAT III standards might encounter disruptions. CAT III runways enable aircraft to land during poor visibility conditions.
Videos and photos from various parts of Delhi and its suburbs on Wednesday morning depicted a thick blanket of fog covering roads and obscuring buildings. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that visibility had dropped to zero in several localities. The IMD's forecast for the day included predictions of light rains or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds. Additionally, moderate fog was anticipated for the upcoming days.
Dense fog is a common occurrence in Delhi and other parts of North India during the winter months. However, the cold weather in Delhi this season has set several records. According to an IMD report, Delhi is experiencing its coldest January in 13 years, with a maximum temperature recorded at 17.7°C. The second-coldest January occurred nine years ago, in 2015, when the maximum temperature was 17.9°C. Nights in Delhi have also recorded their coldest temperatures this year since 2013, according to the IMD report.
