Delhi fog alert: Zero visibility in NCR, Airport issues advisory

Thick fog blanketed Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday morning, reducing visibility to near zero. Road users struggled in the dense fog, while air and rail services also faced disruptions.

At 7 am, the temperature in Delhi recorded 11.2°C, with the air quality index standing at a concerning 353, according to the Sameer app. The fog caused severe visibility issues, especially along the Barapullah flyover, India Gate, and the Delhi-Jaipur highway.

Indira Gandhi International Airport issued an advisory, urging passengers to check for flight updates. “Landings and take-offs continue, but flights not CAT III compliant may be affected,” the airport stated on social media. Passengers were asked to stay in touch with airlines for the latest updates.

Despite the fog, Delhi saw a warm start to the day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a minimum temperature of 10°C and a maximum of 26°C. The fog is expected to persist through the day. January in Delhi has been unusually warm. Friday’s maximum temperature hit 27°C, the highest in the month since 2019.

The average high for January was 21.1°C, higher than the usual 20.1°C. IMD data also indicated warmer-than-usual nighttime temperatures. Weather expert Mahesh Palawat explained that the absence of strong western disturbances allowed temperatures to rise quickly. “If we had strong systems, we would have experienced colder conditions,” he added.

The air quality in Delhi remains a concern. The AQI continues to be “very poor” and is expected to remain in this category until February 3. After that, slight improvements are anticipated. “From February 1 to 3, Delhi’s air quality will remain ‘very poor’,” the Centre’s Early Warning System for Delhi reported. It predicted a “poor” AQI in the following days.

With the fog and air quality worsening, authorities urge the public to take precautions, especially for those with respiratory issues.