A severe blanket of dense fog paralyzed India's busiest airport on Monday. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) faced massive disruptions. Over 128 flights were cancelled and dozens more delayed. The chaos began in the early morning hours of December 29th.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for "very dense fog." Visibility at the airport dropped to a critical 50 metres. Major airlines like IndiGo and Air India scrambled to manage the fallout. Thousands of passengers were left stranded as a result.
IndiGo, the country's largest carrier, bore the brunt of the cancellations. The airline cancelled around 80 flights nationwide. About 40 of those were flights operating to and from Delhi. According to ANI, the airline's website cited bad weather impacting multiple northern cities.Other airlines also reported significant issues. Air India launched a special 'FogCare' initiative for affected passengers. SpiceJet warned passengers of potential delays and cancellations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a public advisory and shared helpline numbers.
The travel disruption was not confined to air travel. Railway services across northern India also suffered major delays. Low visibility made it unsafe for trains to maintain their schedules. This compounded the misery for commuters and holiday travelers.Air quality also plunged to hazardous levels alongside the fog. Delhi's average AQI breached 400, falling into the 'Severe' category. This combination of dense fog and toxic smog created a dangerous public health environment. Authorities advised people to limit outdoor activities.
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