Dense fog disrupts flight operations at IGI airport

Dhaka: Passengers at Delhi Airport and other northern cities may face flight disruptions on Monday (Dec 22) as dense fog and poor air quality continue to affect the region.

Airports in Delhi and Srinagar have cancelled several flights over the past week due to low visibility.

In a Monday advisory, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said low-visibility procedures are in place but all flight operations are currently normal.

On Sunday (Dec 22), the airport recorded more than 105 flight cancellations and 450 delays, with at least 55 arrivals and 52 departures cancelled, according to official sources.

Delhi has been under a blanket of dense fog and pollution for weeks. Last week, the city’s air quality slipped into the ‘severe’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching as high as 430 in some areas. 

On Monday morning, the ITO area registered an AQI of 369 (‘very poor’), while Anand Vihar recorded 402 (‘severe’), according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has activated GRAP Stage-IV measures in Delhi-NCR, banning construction work, restricting non-essential vehicle movement, and imposing other curbs to reduce pollution.

Across India, winter fog has affected several cities, including Bengaluru, Varanasi, Jaipur, Amritsar, Agra, Ayodhya, and Assam. 

Low visibility has led to flight disruptions in these regions, with SpiceJet warning passengers of possible delays in Varanasi, Amritsar, and Bengaluru, and advising them to check flight status before travel.

-B