New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) – On Sunday morning, dense fog over large parts of northern India caused widespread disruptions to both flight and train schedules, sharply reducing visibility across the region.
The India Meteorological Department had earlier issued a yellow alert for Delhi, warning of heavy fog and cold‑wave‑like conditions that were expected to blanket the area for the day.
Air quality in the capital also fell into the “very poor” category as thick smog settled over the city in the morning, further obscuring the already low visibility brought on by the fog.
Rail traffic suffered significant delays. Many trains ended up running several hours behind schedule and a number were rerouted for safety. Railway officials confirmed that over forty‑two services were affected by the fog. Speeds were deliberately lowered to ensure passenger safety, but the move caused considerable inconvenience for commuters.
Some of the most severely delayed trains included the Prayagraj Express, which was about five hours late; the Rewa‑Anand Vihar Express, which lagged nearly nine hours; and the New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express, which departed roughly four hours behind its timetable. The Brahmaputra Mail was delayed by about 45 minutes, while the Mahabodhi Express and Sampurna Kranti Express each ran four to five hours behind schedule. Several other mail and express services were also reported to arrive at their destinations well after their planned times.
Air travel was similarly affected. Multiple airlines – such as SpiceJet, Air India, and IndiGo – issued travel advisories urging passengers to keep an eye on potential delays. They all recommended checking flight and train statuses before heading to the airport or station.
SpiceJet used its X platform to issue a notice that read, “Due to expected bad weather (poor visibility) in Delhi (DEL), Amritsar (ATQ), Jammu (IXJ), Ayodhya (AYJ), Gorakhpur (GOP), Varanasi (VNS), Darbhanga (DBR), Patna (PAT), Guwahati (GAU) and Bagdogra (IXB), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status.”
Earlier, Air India had posted on social media a weather‑related advisory: “Dense fog with reduced visibility is forecast for parts of northern India, including cities like Chandigarh, Amritsar, and Varanasi, tomorrow morning. This may impact flight operations to and from these cities.”
IndiGo also cautioned travelers to stay alert and review official channels regularly. In an X announcement they said, “The fog continues to linger over #Hindon (Airport), resulting in slower flight movements. Departures and arrivals to and from the city, as well as certain routes across our network, may experience short delays as we work through the weather conditions.”
The Delhi Airport authority warned that flight schedules could shift due to low visibility. More than ten flights operating from Delhi International Airport were running behind their planned departure times.
Overall, the dense fog across North India on Sunday had a cascading effect on transportation, prompting airlines and railway officials alike to advise passengers to stay informed and prepared for possible delays or cancellations.
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