A thick blanket of fog combined with dangerously high pollution levels brought the National Capital Region (NCR) to a near standstill on Thursday, severely disrupting air, rail, and road traffic. The dual assault of poor visibility and toxic air created hazardous conditions for residents and commuters alike.
Transportation Chaos Across the Region
The impact on transportation was immediate and widespread. At the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, operations were thrown into disarray. Over 30 flights were delayed, and at least 10 were diverted to other cities due to the near-zero visibility conditions. Passengers faced long hours of uncertainty and inconvenience as schedules collapsed.
The railway network did not fare any better. More than 22 trains arriving in Delhi were running late by several hours, with some delays exceeding six to eight hours. Commuters were left stranded at stations, grappling with the cold and poor air quality. On the roads, the situation was equally perilous. Vehicles were forced to crawl with their hazard lights on, leading to massive traffic snarls on key highways and within the city.
Visibility Plummets, Air Quality Turns Hazardous
Meteorological reports painted a grim picture of the day's conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded visibility levels as low as zero meters in certain areas of Delhi during the morning hours. Places like Palam and Safdarjung reported visibility between 25 and 50 meters, making any movement extremely risky.
Compounding the fog was the severe air pollution. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'severe' category across most monitoring stations. The concentration of PM2.5, the most harmful particulate matter, was many times above the safe limits prescribed by the World Health Organization, posing serious health risks.
Official Advisories and Health Warnings Issued
In response to the crisis, authorities issued urgent advisories. The Delhi Police urged drivers to use fog lights and avoid high speeds. The IMD forecast indicated that similar conditions of dense to very dense fog are likely to persist over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh for the next few days.
Health experts reiterated warnings for vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, to avoid outdoor activities. The combination of low temperatures, fog, and high pollution creates a toxic mix that can exacerbate breathing problems and lead to other health complications.
The disruptive episode highlights the recurring environmental and public health challenges faced by the Delhi-NCR region every winter, calling for sustained and effective measures to tackle the root causes of pollution.
