New Delhi:
A red alert has been issued due to dense fog in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. A thick layer of fog in the national capital has caused more than a hundred flights to be delayed.
Yesterday, Delhi airport reported delays in around 134 flights, both domestic and international, affecting 35 international departures and 28 international arrivals. In addition, 43 domestic departures and 28 domestic arrivals experienced delays. The situation was no different at New Delhi railway station, where 22 trains were delayed, leaving passengers stranded in the biting cold.
Delhi today witnessed a marginal improvement in air quality with the average air quality index (AQI) reaching 356. Despite the slight delay, air quality is expected to remain in the 'very poor' category for the next two days.
INSAT images released by the Met department yesterday showed a dense layer of fog over north India, affecting regions in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and northwestern Madhya Pradesh. The impact was clearly visible in poor visibility, leading to traffic disruptions and accidents.
The IMD extended its warning and forecast dense fog over Haryana, Punjab for the next five days. Uttar Pradesh is expected to experience dense fog for the next three days, prompting the UP State Road Transport Corporation to issue guidelines for bus plying in poor visibility conditions.
The Delhi Airport Authority has issued an advisory warning that flights that do not meet CAT III standards may face disruptions. The IMD also highlighted the potential health risks associated with dense fog, highlighting the presence of particulate matter and pollutants that could adversely affect respiratory health.