New Delhi, 20 December (H.S.):

Dense fog enveloped India's national capital Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) since early Saturday morning, reducing visibility to zero and severely disrupting road and air traffic. Vehicles crawled at snail's pace on highways, while Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport cancelled approximately 130 flights amid the chaos.

Delhi Airport authorities issued an advisory for passengers, confirming the cancellation of 66 incoming and 63 departing flights on Saturday. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and several airlines also warned of delays due to the adverse weather, with low-visibility procedures still operational though flights resumed normal functioning where possible.

IndiGo Airlines posted on platform X that fog and low visibility at Delhi, Ranchi, Jammu, and Hindon airports could impact flight schedules. The carrier assured passengers of close monitoring, prioritising safe and smooth travel, and urged checking status at http://bit.ly/3ZWAQXd while teams remained on hand for support, expressing optimism for a swift return to regular operations.

Notably, Friday had already witnessed major disruptions at Delhi Airport, with at least 177 flights—including international ones—cancelled and over 500 delayed due to thick fog, as confirmed by a senior official covering both arrivals and departures.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar