Dense fog blankets Delhi-NCR again, leads to cancellation, delay in flights, trains

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a moderate to very dense fog warning for many parts of North India, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan

New Delhi: Dense fog enveloped parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday, reducing visibility to zero and affecting flight and train operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a moderate to very dense fog warning for many parts of North India, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

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The capital’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 408 around 6 am, dropping to the ‘severe’ category from ‘very poor’, according to the data on the Central Pollution Control Board website.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), in an update issued around 6 am on Friday, said the flight departures have been “impacted” due to dense fog.

Flight delays averaged 41 minutes, aviation website FlightRadar24 said.

The DIAL, however, reassured travellers that CAT III-compliant flights can land and depart from the airport.

Hundreds of flights and trains have been cancelled or delayed due to thick fog in the past few weeks in North India.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

According to the IMD, Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 9.6 degrees Celsius.

The weather agency said the capital’s maximum and minimum temperatures would hover between 6 and 20 degrees Celsius on Friday.