New Delhi, 15 December (H.S.):

Dense fog and heavy smog blanketed the National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday morning, severely reducing visibility and disrupting flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). Several flights operated by major carriers, including IndiGo and Air India, faced delays, prompting both airlines to issue passenger advisories prioritising safety and travel updates.

According to airport officials, limited runway visibility during early morning hours led to schedule changes for multiple flights. Airlines adjusted their operations to ensure safety amid deteriorating weather conditions.

In its advisory posted on X, IndiGo stated, “Visibility in Delhi has dropped significantly due to dense fog, affecting flight operations. As a safety precaution and to reduce on-ground waiting time, a few flights may be pre-emptively cancelled through the day.”

The airline added that its teams were working diligently to minimise disruptions and urged travellers to check flight status on the IndiGo website or mobile app before heading to the airport.IndiGo also advised passengers to allow extra travel time due to slow-moving road traffic caused by fog and to make use of its flexible rebooking facility at goindigo.in/plan-b.html in case of cancellations or delays.

“We understand how inconvenient changes can be, but passenger safety remains our top priority,” the airline said.

Meanwhile, Air India issued a similar statement noting that low visibility had impacted flight operations across Delhi and parts of northern India. The flag carrier urged passengers to verify real-time updates via its flight tracker at airindia.com/manage/flight-status.html.

Adding to the chaos, Delhi woke to one of its most polluted mornings this winter. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 483 at Sardar Patel Marg, 417 at Pandit Pant Marg, 474 at Barakhamba Road, and 493 at Akshardham, placing Delhi firmly in the “severe” pollution category.

The graded response action plan (GRAP) stage four remains in force across Delhi-NCR. The Directorate of Education has directed schools to conduct classes up to Grade 11 in hybrid mode, while authorities have appealed for strict adherence to pollution control measures.

Meteorological officials predict that air quality could worsen between Monday and Tuesday, with winds likely to remain weak, trapping pollutants near the surface. On Sunday, Delhi ranked as the third most polluted city in India.The cold wave gripping North India deepened further this week. Bitter winds swept through Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh, while Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir experienced biting cold, fog, and fresh snowfall.

For the first time this season, the India Meteorological Department issued cold-wave alerts even for regions such as Vidarbha, northern Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, southern Karnataka, and Odisha.

As one of the coldest and smoggiest mornings of December unfolded, airlines, travellers, and commuters in Delhi battled slow traffic, delayed flights, and hazardous air on what has quickly become one of the city’s toughest winter days.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar