People of Delhi woke up to a thick layer of dense fog on Monday morning, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an ‘orange’ warning for very dense fog, which is expected to severely impact travel across the national capital region.
The dense fog conditions are anticipated to persist, affecting visibility and creating hazardous conditions on roads, railway tracks, and at airports.
The IMD’s warning highlighted that crucial routes leading to Indira Gandhi International Airport, various railway stations, and major highways in and around Delhi could experience significant disruptions due to the thick fog. The fog is expected to slow down traffic, making it difficult for commuters to travel efficiently. The department advised residents and travelers to be cautious, as the reduced visibility could create challenging driving conditions. This warning comes after the IMD had already issued a ‘yellow alert’ on Sunday, predicting dense fog and colder weather for the next three days, until Wednesday.
The dense fog that enveloped the city has significantly reduced visibility, with conditions at Indira Gandhi International Airport dropping to just 50 meters. While the airport authorities confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that low visibility procedures have been activated, they also reassured that flight operations have not faced major disruptions at this point. However, travelers are advised to remain in contact with airlines for updates regarding any delays or changes in their flight schedules.
In light of the ongoing foggy conditions, the IMD has issued several safety recommendations for commuters. These include driving slowly and carefully, especially on highways and other busy roads, and using fog lights when traveling by vehicle to improve visibility. For those traveling by train or plane, the IMD urged travelers to stay informed about their journey’s status by checking with airlines, railway services, and state transport authorities.
The weather forecast for Delhi suggests that the city will experience a chilly day, with temperatures ranging from a minimum of 7°C to a maximum of 19°C. The cold, foggy weather will continue for the next few days, contributing to difficult travel conditions. While the fog is likely to persist, the air quality has shown slight improvement. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted the anti-pollution measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Sunday evening, due to the improvement in air quality. On Sunday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported the air quality as “poor” with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 278, an improvement from the “very poor” AQI of 327 reported on Saturday.
According to the IMD, the last time visibility in Delhi dropped to zero was between January 2 and 3, lasting for a record nine consecutive hours, the longest stretch of the season. The thick fog on Saturday also caused significant disruptions, with 209 flights being delayed, including both arrivals and departures. Additionally, five flights were canceled, and 45 trains were delayed due to the poor visibility and hazardous conditions on the tracks.
