Early morning visibility in parts of the capital remained significantly low, exacerbating travel issues and commuter safety concerns.
Delhi Fog Chaos Continues as Dense Haze Is Likely to Persist for Two More Days
Delhi is reeling under major weather disruptions as dense fog and haze affect life and travel across the national capital and northern plains. Thick fog persisted on Sunday and disrupted transport for the seventh consecutive day. According to the weather agency's forecast, these conditions will continue for at least two more days.
The India Meteorological Department has linked the prolonged fog to a western disturbance that is also bringing snowfall to parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. This system is expected to remain active through Tuesday, after which conditions may gradually improve.
Travel networks are grappling with poor visibility. According to data from flight-tracking services covering the past week’s operations, at Indira Gandhi International Airport, over 100 flights were cancelled and more than 500 delayed on Sunday alone. The train network is also bearing the brunt of these weather conditions, with Northern Railways reporting delays on more than 50 services due to safety protocols in low-visibility conditions.
Despite the ongoing disruptions, there was a slight improvement in air quality late Sunday. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), previously in the “severe” band, hovered around 377 in the “very poor” category, highlighting the continued health risks for residents.
Weather observers classify fog intensity based on visibility. There was moderate fog, defined as visibility between 200 and 500 metres, and dense fog between 50 and 200 metres. Early morning visibility in parts of the capital remained significantly low, exacerbating travel issues and commuter safety concerns.
Officials are urging travellers to check schedules closely and allow extra time for journeys. With winter at its peak, the combination of calm winds and lingering moisture creates ideal conditions for fog and smog to persist. The IMD has signalled that isolated dense fog could continue into the end of the week, keeping disruption risks high through the festive season.
Source: Hindustan Times
