Dense Fog Disrupts Travel in North India: Flights and Trains Delayed, Canceled

New Delhi: A thick blanket of fog engulfed North India on Friday morning, causing widespread disruptions in air and rail travel. The visibility in several areas dropped to zero, severely impacting the movement of flights and trains.

Flights Affected at Delhi Airport

More than 100 flights have been delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here, inconveniencing hundreds of passengers. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has issued a statement urging passengers to contact their respective airlines for real-time information on flight schedules.

“Due to dense fog, there has been an impact on flight departures; however, flights which are CAT III compliant are able to land and depart from Delhi airport,” DIAL posted on X (formerly Twitter) at 5:52 AM. CAT III compliance enables flight operations in low-visibility conditions.

Major airline IndiGo said it advised customers to check in before traveling to the airport because of reduced visibility in the region. “We highly advise arriving earlier for the journey to the airport since it’s getting foggy around Delhi and bringing the speed on the roads almost to a crawling pace,” read the post by IndiGo at 5:04 AM on X.

Rail Services Disrupted

In North India, train services have been delayed and even canceled due to the dense fog, further compounding the problems of the travelers. Hundreds of trains have been affected over the last few weeks. Delays of a few hours to over half a day in some cases were seen.

Daily Flight Operations at IGIA

IGIA Delhi, with its daily movement of 1,300 flights, was badly hit during this period when normal operations became tough to handle in the challenging weather.

Safety and Travel Advisory

The authorities have warned travelers to expect longer travel times because of the double whammy of low visibility and traffic slowdowns due to fog. The airport operator and airlines have apologized for the inconvenience and assured passengers that they are committed to minimizing disruptions.

As North India continues to experience foggy mornings, the travelers are requested to keep an eye on the flight and train schedules to avoid last-minute shocks.

With inputs from agencies.