Dense Fog Disrupts 134 Flights in Delhi-NCR, Causes Travel Chaos
New Delhi, 28th December 2023: Delhi-NCR is currently grappling with dense fog, severely impacting air travel as visibility drops to nearly zero. Approximately 134 flights, both domestic and international, to and from Delhi airport have been disrupted due to the persistent fog.
Delays in flight operations include 35 international departures, 28 international arrivals, 43 domestic departures, and 28 domestic arrivals. The challenging weather conditions have created significant challenges for travellers.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted a low temperature of 7.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with the maximum expected to reach 22 degrees Celsius. On Wednesday, the IMD issued a dense fog alert for Delhi, with specific warnings for Haryana, Chandigarh, and the surrounding areas.
Visibility at Delhi-Palam Airport plummeted from 100 meters at 2130 IST to 50 meters at 2200 IST on Wednesday. The situation has been exacerbated by the closure of the main runway at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport for repairs, leaving only one CAT-I runway operational during periods of very low visibility.
In addition to air travel disruptions, the dense fog has affected rail services, causing delays for 22 trains departing from the New Delhi Railway Station. Passengers, including those waiting for trains like the Howrah New Delhi Rajdhani and Jammu Tawi Rajdhani, have experienced delays of over an hour, as depicted in visuals from the station amid the intense cold weather.
