Delhi Grapples with Heavy Fog, Flight and Train Schedules Disrupted.

Representational Image | Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Early Tuesday morning, Delhi found itself shrouded in dense fog, creating a challenging scenario for both air and rail travel as visibility plummeted and delays ensued.

The impact of the fog was particularly felt at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, where visibility dropped to a mere 50 meters. This led to a series of delays and diversions, with airport authorities noting that, between 8:30 am and 10 am, five flights had to be redirected to Jaipur. Contrary to official reports, Flightradar24, an online platform that monitors global flights in real-time, reported a more staggering figure, stating that 301 flights faced delays, and seven were outright cancelled at Delhi airport on Tuesday.

According to statements from airport officials to ANI, Delhi airport grappled with delays for around 30 flights, encompassing both international arrivals and departures. The cause? The pervasive and dense fog that had settled over the region.

By 10 am on Tuesday, the Runway Visual Range (RVRs) at the airport ranged from 125 to 275 meters, signaling CAT-III dense fog conditions. The official Delhi airport website highlighted disruptions in flights destined for Warsaw, Dubai, Kuwait, Kathmandu, London, and Mauritius. Additionally, arrivals from Baku, Abu Dhabi, Milan, Addis Ababa, and Doha were subjected to delays.

Not limited to international flights, the impact of the fog extended to domestic routes. Flights to Chennai and Shimla faced delays, while a Lucknow-bound flight had to be canceled. Arrival delays were reported from various domestic locations, including Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad, all attributing the setbacks to the adverse weather conditions.

Simultaneously, the Northern Railways reported disruptions in the schedules of 14 trains bound for Delhi, originating from diverse parts of the country. The affected routes included those from Puri, Howrah, Kanpur, Allahabad, Azamgarh, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Dibrugarh, Durg, Chennai, Hyderabad, Habibganj, Khajuraho, and Vasco.

The dense fog that blanketed Delhi on Tuesday not only created a visually challenging environment but also sent ripple effects through the city’s transportation network, leading to a day marked by delays and inconveniences for both air and rail travelers.