“Dense Haze and Fog to Affect Flights and Trains in North India for 2 More Days”

Hazy Conditions to Disrupt Flights and Trains in North India for Two More Days

Weather agencies have warned that dense fog and haze are likely to continue disrupting air and rail travel across northern India for at least the next two days. A western disturbance affecting the region is expected to weaken only by Tuesday, keeping visibility low during late-night and early-morning hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that while fog may gradually thin, isolated pockets could still experience visibility dropping to 200 metres or less.

Air Travel Disruptions

Air travel continued to face challenges on Monday, December 22, though some improvements were noted. IndiGo reported two flight cancellations—from Pune to New Delhi and Pune to Amritsar. Earlier, dense fog had caused widespread disruption at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, with over 100 flights cancelled and 500+ delayed on Sunday. Most cancellations involved IndiGo and Air India.

Airlines have urged passengers to stay alert as sudden weather changes could still affect schedules.

Rail Services Also Impacted

Northern Railway reported delays to over 50 trains on Sunday, with some running more than six hours behind schedule. Reduced visibility during early morning hours on Monday continued to impact train movement across several routes.

Visibility and Air Quality

Delhi remained under a thick haze on Sunday. Safdarjung recorded visibility as low as 200 metres in the early hours, while Palam saw 300 metres late Saturday night—classified as dense fog by the IMD.

Air quality showed slight improvement but remained in the “very poor” category, with an AQI of 377 on Sunday evening, marking the 11th consecutive day of unhealthy pollution levels.

Western Disturbance and Snowfall in Hills

The fog is linked to a western disturbance that brought snowfall to parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. Tourist destinations such as Gulmarg and Sonamarg reported fresh snow, while higher mountain passes saw moderate accumulation.

The IMD expects snowfall and rain in the hills to ease by Tuesday, which should help improve weather conditions in the plains.

Forecast for the Coming Days

Fog intensity is expected to reduce after December 23, but winter fog will remain a regular feature in the region. January could bring more western disturbances, raising the risk of dense fog and travel disruptions again.

Passengers are advised to check travel updates regularly and allow extra time for journeys in affected areas.