“Very dense fog” is causing travel disruption in New Delhi this morning.
A thick layer of fog has enveloped India’s capital, reducing visibility to barely 50 metres in some areas.
Traffic on the roads has been shrouded in mist and at least 30 flights that were due to land or depart from Delhi Airport have experienced delays, according to Indian news agency ANI.
ANI also says at least 14 trains travelling along routes in north India have been similarly affected.
Pic: AP
The planes at risk of prolonged journeys are ones that don’t have a navigation system called CAT III, which allows pilots to land safely while visibility is low.
“While landings and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected,” said an airport spokesperson on X.
Airlines like India’s SpiceJet also warned passengers that departures and arrivals from New Delhi may be affected.
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The budget airline urged passengers to keep an eye on flight updates via its website.
India’s weather department said the “very dense fog”, which comes amid temperatures of around 9C, could last until Wednesday in some parts of the city.
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
It added that the “dense fog” may have an impact on the health of the city’s 20 million residents because it contains particulate matter and other pollutants.
New Delhi’s air quality index stood at 376 on Tuesday morning, rated as “very poor”, by the Central Pollution Control Board. It considers levels between 0 to 50 to be “good”.
Other parts of north India, including the states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, reported similar weather conditions on Tuesday morning, with temperatures ranging between 6C and 10C in most places, the weather department said.
