Delhi finds itself under a red alert as dense fog engulfs the city, creating a ripple effect on air and land transportation. The situation is not isolated to the capital alone neighbouring regions like Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh are also grappling with low visibility issues, disrupting normal life.Flight chaos at Delhi AirportThe impact of the dense fog on transportation is glaring, especially at the Delhi airport. Yesterday saw a staggering 134 flights—both domestic and international—facing delays. Among them were 35 international departures and 28 arrivals, along with 43 domestic departures and 28 domestic arrivals. The consequence of this air travel turmoil has left passengers in a state of flux, dealing with unforeseen delays and uncertainty.Rail travel hit tooThe New Delhi Railway Station wasnt spared either, with 22 trains experiencing delays. Passengers found themselves stranded, grappling with the biting cold as they awaited updates on their journeys.Marginal improvement in air qualityWhile the city navigates the fog-induced chaos, there is a silver lining in the form of a slight improvement in air quality. The average Air Quality Index (AQI) settled at 356 today. However, the relief is expected to be short-lived, with forecasts indicating that the air quality will persist in the very poor category for the next two days.Dense fog across North IndiaThe Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) released INSAT imagery revealing a dense fog layer shrouding north India. States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and northwest Madhya Pradesh have been significantly affected, leading to low visibility conditions and subsequent traffic disruptions and accidents.Fog Observed (at 1730 hours IST of today, the 28th December): Dense fog in isolated pockets of Punjab Shallow to moderate fogin isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Madhya Pradesh, West Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/iKF9Q5e8mh— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 28, 2023Extended warnings and guidelinesThe IMD has extended its warning, projecting dense fog over Haryana and Punjab for the next five days. Uttar Pradesh is also on alert, anticipating similar conditions for the next three days. In response, the UP State Road Transport Corporation has issued guidelines for bus operations during periods of low visibility.Flight advisory and health concernsThe Delhi Airport Authority has issued an advisory, cautioning that flights not compliant with CAT III standards may face disruptions. The IMD has also drawn attention to potential health risks associated with dense fog. Particulate matter and pollutants present in the fog could have adverse effects on respiratory health, urging residents to take precautions.
