Weather update: Dense fog blankets Delhi and north India; flights disrupted, multiple accidents reported

Delhi and several parts of north India woke up to dense fog on Wednesday morning following a sharp dip in temperatures, severely reducing visibility and disrupting daily life. The foggy conditions have affected road, rail and air traffic, compounding problems already caused by hazardous air quality levels in the national capital.

Flight operations affected at Delhi’s IGI Airport

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport issued an advisory warning passengers of poor visibility and urged them to check flight updates with their respective airlines before travelling to the airport.

SpiceJet also issued a travel advisory, cautioning passengers about possible delays and disruptions at several airports across north India due to low visibility.

According to the airline, flights to and from Delhi, Amritsar, Jammu, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Darbhanga, Patna, Guwahati and Bagdogra may be impacted. Travellers have been advised to track real-time flight status before heading to airports.

On Tuesday alone, at least 10 flights were cancelled and over 270 flights were delayed at Delhi airport because of dense fog.

IMD predicts fog to persist till December 27

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said dense to very dense fog conditions are likely to continue across parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan until December 27. Early morning and late-night hours are expected to remain particularly challenging for commuters.

Fog-related accidents claim lives

The low visibility has also led to fatal road accidents:

• Yamuna Expressway, Greater Noida: Two people, including a woman, lost their lives in separate incidents after their motorcycles were hit by unidentified vehicles amid dense fog.
• Amethi, Uttar Pradesh: A six-vehicle collision near an underpass in the Musafirkhana police station area resulted in the deaths of two people. The accident occurred during heavy fog on Tuesday.

Authorities have urged motorists to drive cautiously, use fog lights and avoid unnecessary travel during early morning hours.

No relief from toxic air in Delhi

The fog episode comes at a time when Delhi is already battling severe air pollution. Despite restrictions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), air quality has shown little improvement.

On Wednesday morning, 28 out of 40 air quality monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 400, placing them in the ‘severe’ category.

Area-wise AQI levels in Delhi

• Anand Vihar: 455
• Mundka: 435
• Dwarka: 430
• Punjabi Bagh: 421
• ITO: 410
• Narela: 400

Health experts have advised residents, especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory issues, to limit outdoor exposure and use protective masks when stepping out.

What commuters should keep in mind

• Check flight and train schedules before travelling
• Avoid early-morning road travel where possible
• Use fog lights and maintain safe distances
• Follow health advisories due to severe air pollution