As many as 152 flights will be cancelled during the day at the Delhi airport as dense fog surrounded the capital and its adjoining regions on Friday, significantly reducing visibility. According to sources, there will be 152 planned flights cancellations, including 79 departures and 73 arrivals.
The Delhi airport is currently functioning at CAT III conditions, leading to delays and disruptions. It has been issuing advisories almost every hour on X, urging passengers to check with their respective airlines to learn about the status of their flights. Additionally, multiple airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, have issued advisories, warning that flight operations may be impacted due to bad weather.
The fog has curtailed visibility in the Delhi-NCR, including Noida and Ghaziabad, to below 100 metres. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the day, forecasting dense fog during the morning hours.
On Thursday, Delhi recorded its coldest December day so far this season as the maximum temperature settled at 20.1 degrees Celsius, 2.1 notches below normal. The capital is yet to experience a cold wave this season and the biting cold that generally sets in by this time in December has been amiss. The minimum temperature on Thursday was recorded at 9 degrees Celsius, 0.9 notches above normal, the Met Department said.
The foggy conditions were similar in other north Indian cities as well, with an alert issued in Uttar Pradesh for the next two days. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to ensure road accidents are prevented, and as a result, speed restrictions have been imposed across the state. Vehicles plying above the stipulated speed limits will be fined.
According to the IMD, after a day's relief from fog tomorrow, the capital will be under dense fog alert again for Sunday (December 21) and Monday (December 22). It has predicted the minimum temperature to remain unchanged in northwest India over the next 24 hours and a gradual rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius during the subsequent three days and no change thereafter.
