Dense fog and hazardous air quality levels have once again thrown Delhi into disarray, disrupting air, rail, and road travel in the national capital. The city woke up to near-zero visibility on Friday, causing significant delays to flights, trains, and vehicular movement.
According to reports, over 150 flights experienced delays, and dozens of trains were running behind schedule. Visibility issues, caused by dense fog and hazardous air quality, have been further exacerbated by the cold weather, which traps pollutants close to the ground. This annual winter phenomenon disrupts life in northern India every year between December and January.
Air quality monitoring by the state-run Safar website revealed that the air quality index (AQI) in many parts of Delhi exceeded 400—more than 25 times the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit. Authorities have reinstated measures to control pollution, including halting construction and demolition activities and shifting school classes online.
The Delhi airport issued an advisory warning passengers about potential disruptions, stating that while flights continue, those not equipped with CAT III technology—which aids aircraft in landing during low visibility—may be impacted. Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported average delays of over 30 minutes for departures and 20 minutes for arrivals.
Travelers voiced their frustrations on social media, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) stating, “No display of boarding gate and it seems no one knows the exact status.”
The Indian Railways also reported that 26 trains to Delhi were delayed due to foggy conditions. Meanwhile, video footage from Delhi and neighboring regions revealed a thick blanket of fog shrouding roads, fields, and buildings.
The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast light rain over the weekend, which could help improve visibility and ease the travel chaos caused by dense fog and hazardous air quality.
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