Thick Fog Descends on Delhi-NCR, Disrupting Flights and Train Services
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New Delhi, Jan 10 (NationPress) Thick fog has covered parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday, causing visibility to drop to zero and impacting both flight and train operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for moderate to very dense fog across numerous regions in North India, including Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
The air quality index (AQI) in the capital was noted at 408 around 6 a.m., elevating it to the 'severe' category from 'very poor', according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board website.
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) reported around 6 a.m. on Friday that flight departures had been significantly affected due to the dense fog.
According to aviation site FlightRadar24, flight delays averaged 41 minutes.
Despite this, DIAL assured travelers that CAT III-compliant flights can still land and take off from the airport.
In recent weeks, numerous flights and trains have faced cancellations or delays due to the thick fog covering North India.
An AQI of 0-50 is regarded as 'good', 51-100 as 'satisfactory', 101-200 as 'moderate', 201-300 as 'poor', 301-400 as 'very poor', and 401-500 as 'severe'.
The IMD reported Delhi's minimum temperature at 9.6 degrees Celsius.
The weather agency anticipates that the capital's maximum and minimum temperatures will fluctuate between 6 and 20 degrees Celsius on Friday.
On Thursday, the Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR's air quality reinstated stage 3 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to a significant surge in air pollution levels attributed to unfavorable weather conditions.
Delhi's air pollution levels are on the rise, with the 24-hour average AQI recorded at 357 at 4 p.m. on Thursday, an increase from 297 on Wednesday.
The Commission for Air Quality Management, which is responsible for devising strategies to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, instructed local authorities to promptly implement stage 3 restrictions to avert further deterioration.
Stage 3 of GRAP, which had been lifted on Sunday, includes a prohibition on non-essential construction activities.
Classes up to grade 5 are required to transition to a hybrid mode under Stage 3.
Parents and students can opt for online education wherever possible.
Stage 3 also restricts BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles (4-wheelers) in Delhi and adjacent NCR districts, with exemptions for persons with disabilities.
Additionally, it bans non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles that meet BS-IV or older emissions standards in the national capital.
During the winter months, the Delhi-NCR region implements GRAP restrictions, categorizing air quality into four stages - Stage I (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage II (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage III (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage IV (Severe Plus, AQI above 450).
