Dense fog engulfs Delhi-NCR: Over 100 flights delayed, train services hit

NEW DELHI: Delhi-NCR woke up to a chilly Wednesday morning as dense fog blanketed the city, reducing visibility and disrupting daily life.
The minimum temperature in the capital dropped to 7°C, with foggy skies and biting cold making the morning commute difficult.
Visibility was significantly affected, with several parts of the city reporting dense fog.
The IMD has warned of dense fog in the morning, with improved conditions expected by the afternoon.

The surface winds are expected to predominantly blow from the southeast at a speed of less than 4 kmph during the morning, the IMD has forecast. Dense fog is likely to blanket most areas in the morning, with very dense fog expected in isolated pockets.
Wind speeds are set to pick up to 6-8 kmph from the south by the afternoon, before easing to less than 4 kmph from the northeast in the evening and night. Smog or shallow to moderate fog is expected to prevail during the evening and night hours, the IMD added.
Foggy conditions in the national capital and parts of north India have delayed 26 trains heading to Delhi, according to Indian Railways.

'Over 100 flights delayed'
Over 100 flights were delayed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Wednesday morning due to dense fog that caused low visibility.
However, no flight cancellations or diversions have been reported so far, officials said.
In a post on X at 8.18am, IndiGo informed passengers about potential delays caused by the weather. "Low visibility and fog over Delhi may lead to some delays. We're monitoring the situation closely and doing our best to ensure safe and smooth travel," the airline stated.
The Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) also confirmed that while flight operations, including landings and takeoffs, are continuing, delays may impact flights not equipped with CAT III technology, which allows operations in low-visibility conditions.
According to data from Flightradar24.com, more than 100 flights were delayed as of Wednesday morning. In a post on X at 7:35 am, DIAL advised passengers to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates. "We deeply regret any inconvenience caused," the airport operator added.

Delhi’s air quality has also worsened, as per CPCB data. Lodhi Road recorded an AQI of 287 (IITM) and 291 (IMD), while major areas like Dhyan Chand National Stadium reported 368, Mandir Marg 378, Mundka 372, and NSIT Dwarka 242. Najafgarh recorded 255, Narela 377, Nehru Nagar 394, and North Campus, DU 382 (IMD). Okhla Phase-2 reported an AQI of 380, Patparganj 390, and Pusa 355.

In other parts of the city, R K Puram registered an AQI of 373, Rohini 399, Shadipur 313, and Sirifort 360. Sonia Vihar recorded 315, Sri Aurobindo Marg 222, Vivek Vihar 414, and Wazirpur 408. Among these, Vivek Vihar recorded the highest AQI of 414, indicating severe pollution levels.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 and 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 and 300 ‘poor,’ 301 and 400 ‘very poor,’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe.’
Visuals from Nirankari Colony show the area enveloped in dense fog during the early morning hours.

Meanwhile, thick fog covered the city in visuals from Shankar Vihar on NH 48.
On Tuesday, Delhi experienced severe fog, with visibility dropping to zero in areas like Palam.
At Safdarjung, visibility hovered at 50 meters for much of the morning. The IMD noted calm winds and high humidity levels—ranging between 80% and 100%—as contributing factors to the dense fog.
The cold conditions caused delays for 39 trains, with some running up to four hours late. The maximum temperature on Tuesday stood at 21.2°C, slightly above normal, while the minimum settled at 8.9°C.
Delhi’s air quality remained in the "poor" category on Tuesday, with a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 275. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noted that poor air quality, combined with fog, could exacerbate health issues for residents, particularly those with respiratory ailments.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered poor, leading to discomfort and breathing problems for sensitive groups.