Chandigarh witnessed significant air travel disruptions on Tuesday as dense fog shrouded the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Chandigarh Airport. A total of 21 flights were cancelled, while numerous others experienced delays of up to five hours, leaving passengers stranded and frustrated. According to airport officials, twelve arrivals and nine departures had to be cancelled due to poor visibility and operational constraints. Early morning and late evening flights were the worst affected, with operations nearly grinding to a halt.
The first flight to depart from Chandigarh was scheduled for Hyderabad but took off only at 12:50 pm, over six hours and 25 minutes behind schedule. Meanwhile, all flight arrivals after 9:20 pm were cancelled as a thick layer of fog engulfed the Tricity region. Several other departures faced significant delays: the international flight to Abu Dhabi, originally scheduled for 2:40 pm, departed at 4:32 pm, while the Dubai-bound flight, set for 4:50 pm, finally took off at 5:38 pm. Officials urged passengers to check flight statuses online and arrive at the airport well in advance, citing safety as the top priority.
The weather disruptions extended beyond air travel. Several trains arriving and departing from Chandigarh experienced delays. The Agra Cantt-Hoshiarpur Express was cancelled. The Thiruvananthapuram North-Chandigarh Sampark Kranti arrived 1 hour 30 minutes late at 11:20 am, while the New Delhi-Amb Andaura Vande Bharat Express faced a 55-minute delay. The New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi reached Chandigarh at 11:38 am, 39 minutes behind schedule, and the Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi arrived at 6:24 pm, nine minutes late. The New Delhi-Daulatpur Chauk Jan Shatabdi Express was delayed by four minutes. These delays highlight the widespread impact of dense fog on both air and rail transport in the Tricity area.
In summary, 21 flights were cancelled at Chandigarh airport due to dense fog, with delays of up to five hours reported on multiple domestic and international flights. Early morning and late evening flights were most affected, and rail travel was also disrupted, with cancellations and delays reported. Passengers were advised to stay updated on travel schedules. As the Tricity region braces for continued foggy conditions, airport authorities and railway officials are working to minimize disruptions while ensuring passenger safety.