Dense Fog Blankets Northern India: Flight Operations Disrupted Causing Diversions And Delays

Northern India grapples with a dense fog onslaught, causing widespread flight diversions, delays, and invoking Captain Minima regulations. Between December 25 and 28, 58 flight diversions were reported across the nation, with a substantial 50 attributed to the stringent Captain Minima regulations amid the challenging fog conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning, predicting dense fog in several northern regions, including Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. Visibility is expected to plummet below 50 meters during the early morning and nighttime hours on December 28 and 29, 2023. In Uttar Pradesh, very dense fog with visibility ranging between 50 to 200 meters is anticipated during the same period.

Thursday witnessed the brunt of the fog-related disruptions, causing 134 flight delays and affecting 22 trains. A thick blanket of haze covered Delhi and much of north India, prompting the IMD to extend its forecast of dense fog over Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab until December 31.

"Captain Minima," the minimum operating standards that pilots must adhere to for landing, played a pivotal role in the surge of flight diversions. Adverse weather conditions, particularly dense fog at Delhi airport, compelled airlines to activate these regulations, leading to challenges for the aviation industry.

The IMD continued its alert, projecting very dense fog in certain areas of Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on December 30, with visibility expected to range between 50 to 200 meters during the morning and nighttime hours. Uttarakhand may also experience dense fog on December 28 and 29, with visibility ranging between 50 to 200 meters.

Punjab is not exempt from the foggy ordeal, as dense fog is forecasted on December 30 and 31, 2023, during the early morning and nighttime hours. Visibility in these regions is expected to hover between 50 to 200 meters. The meteorological department's recent satellite imagery, observed at 5:30 pm on December 28, indicated persistent foggy conditions over Punjab, Haryana, extreme north Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and northwest Madhya Pradesh.

A snapshot at 5:30 pm on December 28 revealed dense fog in isolated pockets of Punjab and shallow to moderate fog in isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Madhya Pradesh, and West Rajasthan. IMD highlighted poor visibility levels in various locations, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Ambala, Varanasi, Agra, and Gwalior.

The aviation sector, already grappling with the challenges posed by the ongoing global pandemic, faces additional hurdles with the surge in diversions and delays. Travellers are urged to stay informed about their flight status and make necessary adjustments to their travel plans.

Airlines are working to accommodate affected passengers and minimize disruptions. Captain Minima regulations, while essential for safety, underscore the critical need for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions on flight operations.