Dense fog conditions over the past 24 hours have resulted in major disruptions in flight and train operations in Delhi, leaving hundreds of passengers hassled.
As per Delhi airport authorities, low visibility due to fog has led to delays in the departure of over 110 flights and the cancellation of 25 flights till Wednesday morning. Several trains heading in and out of Delhi also run behind schedule by 5-7 hours due to poor visibility.
Passengers were seen waiting anxiously at the Delhi airport and railway stations in light of the delays and cancellations. Many complained about trains and flights getting rescheduled on the day of travel with little information from the carriers.
#WATCH | Delhi: Several flight operations delayed at IGI airport due to low visibility amid fog. pic.twitter.com/hG1DUKllEt
— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024
“I have come from Dubai and my flight got delayed by 2 hours. It has been very inconvenient,” said passenger Mritunjay Kumar at the Delhi airport.
#WATCH | Delhi: Passengers await the movement of their scheduled trains as several trains get delayed and a few get cancelled due to fog.
— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024
(Visuals from New Delhi Railway station) pic.twitter.com/ZM0I0Yjbvz
Similarly, Ajay, a railway passenger heading to Kerala said, “The Kerala Express I was to take is running 5 hours behind schedule. I have no idea what time it will arrive or depart.”
The India Meteorological Department has said dense to very dense fog is likely to envelop parts of North India over the next 4-5 days. On Tuesday night, visibility dropped to 300 meters and improved only slightly to 600 meters by Wednesday morning.
The adverse weather has also impacted road travel, leading to fatal accidents. In one incident in Muzaffarnagar, UP, two people were killed as their tractor plunged into a canal due to poor visibility.
Taking serious note of the situation, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the 4th runway at Delhi Airport will be operationalized soon to minimize disruption during inclement weather. He also indicated that a standard protocol will be framed to facilitate better communication and assistance to passengers.
The dense fog spell is expected to continue this week, which may lead to persistent delays and cancellations across transportation services in North India.
