The northern capital is still struggling because of thick fog and a thick layer of haze, while according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), at least two more days will pass by with this type of weather, which will continue to cause problems in transport and will keep air quality at a very poor” level. The thick fog reduces visibility in streets, train networks, and at Indira Gandhi International Airport, while air pollution is a critical issue there as well.
Fog and Transportation Chaos
Visibility has been drastically reduced* in major parts of the city, with distances of just 200 metres being recorded in Safdarjung in the early morning hours, while Palam registered visibility of 300 metres, described by the *IMD* as moderate to dense fog.
- Delhi Airport has experienced hundreds of cancelled and delayed flights because of poor visibility over the last week alone. Over 100 flights were cancelled, and over 500 flights experienced delays within the last week alone
- Railway operations have also been affected, with many trains running late by a period of up to six hours or more because of the localised fog in the region.
The main reason for the onset of the fog is the presence of an active western disturbance over northern India. This system induces the presence of cooling air, cloudiness, and stagnation of air, which holds pollutants close to the earth’s surface.
Air Quality Remains Poor
Even as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reported a slight improvement, such as touching a reading of 377 in Delhi from its previous high readings, the pollution standards have persisted in the very poor category, which continues to pose a risk to children, the old, and people suffering from respiratory diseases.
Meteorological forecasts show that **the shallow fog/haze is expected to continue** throughout Tuesday, while it is also possible that it may continue throughout the mornings and evenings owing to low wind speeds.
Impact on Daily Life
- Road transport has become tough because of sharp drops in visibilities during early morning and night hours.
- Schools and offices have reported late presence of students and employees due to the impact of foggy conditions that slow down road traffic in the city and the Delhi-NCR area. Residents are advised to take longer times in going to their destinations, taking into consideration public safety announcements.”
- Health practitioners continue warning against excessive outdoor exposure, especially for those with asthma, bronchitis, heart conditions, or other chronic ailments. Even occasional exposure to pollution in the air can exacerbate their condition.
What to Expect in the Coming Days
According to the IMD forecast:
- The conditions are likely to remain foggy at least through Tuesday. It should be mentioned that it may even last longer.
- Wind speed will be lower, and the mixing layer will be shallower. This will make it more difficult for the dispersion of pollutants. So, AQI is likely to remain within “very poor” and even come close to ‘severe’ in isolated areas.
- There may be a gradual increase in warming of the maximum temperatures, along with changes in the pattern of the winds by the end of the week, which may result in the reduction of the fog, but the thick smog may linger until the meteorological conditions improve.
With dense fog and haze pegged to persist in Delhi for the next two days, the people of this city are likely to continue experiencing transportation troubles, as well as adverse effects associated with health. This has been attributed to unfavourable weather conditions resulting from a western disturbance that has been affecting the region. In the short term, passengers and commuter residents must be ready for flights to be postponed, slowing down railway and road transport, while protecting themselves against respiratory strain. In the mid-term solution to alleviate problems in affected areas, wind currents and rainfall would be essential in dispersing concentrated smoke and particulate emissions in the atmosphere. In effect, the city’s atmosphere persists in foggy and hazy conditions, making it difficult to maintain clean air during the winter season amid usual incumbent climatic elements.
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