New Delhi: Delhi was shrouded in a blanket of thick fog and toxic smog, which affected flight schedules on Monday. Emergency measures have been put into place to handle the dire situation, with most airline carriers sounding caution and alert to their passengers due to the current situation.
Monday marks the second straight day of ‘severe plus’ air quality in Delhi, following a steep spike from an AQI of 457 on Sunday evening, which also fell within the severe plus category.
IndiGo issues travel advisory
Considering the dismal situation, private carrier IndiGo on Sunday night issued a travel advisory, which warned passengers of delays due to low visibility. The airline pointed to fog as a key factor which has impacted air travel. It advised passengers to keep extra time for their journeys and to check flight statuses before heading to the airport.
In a post on X at 11.44pm, IndiGo said, “#6ETravelAdvisory: Fog is currently affecting visibility in Delhi, which may result in slow-moving traffic and delays in flight schedules.” The airline put emphasis on the importance of checking flight status, while asking passengers to plan accordingly to avoid delays.
#6ETravelAdvisory: Fog is currently affecting visibility in Delhi, which may result in slow moving traffic and delays in flight schedules. We recommend allowing extra travel time and checking flight status before starting your journey https://t.co/rpnOvAOxQl. Safe travels!
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 17, 2024
Similarly, SpiceJet in a post at 5.41 am said, “Due to poor visibility in Delhi (DEL), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via https://shorturl.at/6KfRe.”
According to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), low visibility procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. However, all flight operations are presently normal, it said. The Delhi airport handles around 1,400 flight movements every day, and any disruptions could lead to a cascading delays throughout the airline network.
Train disrupted due to foggy conditions
A number of trains have been delayed due to the foggy conditions in north India. A list (please see) has been issued which mention the names of trains that are running late.
Trains running late
Blanket of smog in Delhi
High air pollution levels have aggravated the foggy conditions. The air pollution has reached monstrous proportions. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to the deplorable air quality in the national capital.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi has gone past the 450 mark, and it has been categorised as “severe plus”. GRAP Stage 4, which is the most stringent level of the plan, has been implemented in the capital. It includes an eight-point plan of action to reduce the pollution crisis.
