Delhi: Smog causes travel chaos in Indian capital

India's capital, Delhi, has recently experienced dense fog and severe air pollution, causing transportation chaos. On Friday morning, visibility in several areas dropped to zero, severely impacting the normal operation of flights, trains, and road traffic.

It is reported that the adverse weather conditions have led to the delay of more than 150 flights and the late arrival of dozens of trains. Such problems repeatedly occur in northern India every winter, with low temperatures between December and January trapping pollutants near the ground, affecting visibility, making travel difficult, and rendering the air dangerous.

According to the official website Safar, the air quality index in several areas of Delhi exceeds 400, which is more than 25 times the safety limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO). In response, the capital authorities have reactivated pollution control measures, including banning construction and demolition activities, and switching schools to online classes.

Videos and photos from Delhi and surrounding cities show dense fog engulfing roads, farmlands, and buildings. Delhi Airport has issued a notice reminding passengers to be aware of possible flight delays due to low visibility. "While takeoffs and landings at Delhi Airport are continuing, flights not meeting CAT III standards may be affected," the notice stated. CAT III is a system that allows aircraft to land in low visibility conditions.

According to flight tracking website flightradar24, departing flights at Delhi Airport were delayed by more than 30 minutes, and arriving flights were delayed by nearly 20 minutes. Many passengers have complained about the chaotic situation at the airport on social media. One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Gates are not displayed, and no one seems to know the exact flight status."

Meanwhile, Indian Railways stated that 26 trains heading to the city were delayed due to the fog. The Indian Meteorological Department predicts light rain over the weekend, which is expected to help improve visibility conditions.