4 Dead, 250 Flights Hit in Delhi, Dense Fog Disrupts North India
A dense fog blanketed North India on Saturday, disrupting lives and causing chaos across multiple states, including Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The low visibility impacted air, rail, and road transportation, compounding the effects of an ongoing cold wave in the region. Tragically, four people lost their lives in a fog-related road accident in Haryana’s Hisar.
The Delhi airport faced significant disruptions as the runway visibility dropped to zero during the early hours of Saturday. Over 250 flights were delayed, around 40 were canceled, and 15 were diverted within a short time frame. Authorities urged passengers to stay updated via their airlines.
Airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, issued advisories citing the dense fog as the primary cause of flight delays across Delhi and northern India. Kolkata Airport experienced similar disruptions, with 40 flights delayed and five cancellations reported. Major airports in Chandigarh, Amritsar, and Agra also faced operational challenges.
The dense fog led to a significant slowdown of road traffic, with vehicles moving at reduced speeds in cities like Delhi, Noida, Jaipur, and Lucknow. Tragically, the limited visibility caused a fatal road accident in Haryana, leaving four dead.
Train schedules were disrupted. More than 25 long-distance trains ran behind schedule because of the thick fog blanketing the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Delhi, warning residents of very dense fog. The temperature dipped to 10.2°C on Saturday morning, exacerbating the ongoing cold wave.
The air quality in the region further deteriorated, with Delhi reporting ‘very poor’ AQI levels. Ten monitoring stations marked AQI levels in the ‘severe’ category. In response, authorities reinstated restrictions under the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) III. These restrictions include a ban on certain polluting vehicles.
The IMD predicts similar foggy conditions in the coming days in North India. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is likely to remain covered in a thick layer of fog. Residents are advised to take precautions while traveling and stay updated on weather advisories.
