Flights Disrupted Amidst Dense Fog, Cold Wave, and Worsening Delhi AQI in North India

North India is grappling with dense fog, severe cold, and deteriorating air quality, causing widespread flight disruptions across Delhi, Amritsar, and other major cities. Delhi's AQI plummeted into the 'very poor' category, sparking political clashes in the Assembly. The India Meteorological Department forecasts continued thick fog and cold wave conditions across several regions, urging travelers to exercise caution as airlines issue advisories for potential delays and cancellations.

North India is experiencing significant disruptions due to a combination of dense fog, a severe cold wave, and worsening air quality. On Tuesday, Delhi woke up to heavy fog and an Air Quality Index (AQI) that plummeted into the 'very poor' category, prompting airlines like IndiGo and Delhi Airport to issue advisories about flight delays and cancellations across multiple northern and eastern cities, including Amritsar, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Varanasi, Ranchi, and Hindon. Passengers were urged to check flight statuses due to low visibility.While fog dominated the weather, air pollution remained a critical concern. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported Delhi's overall AQI at 180 (moderate), but localized readings alarmingly reached 366, classified as 'very harmful,' with high PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. This deterioration in air quality, following a brief improvement, triggered intense political confrontation during the Delhi Assembly's winter session, where AAP MLAs protested against pollution and some were subsequently suspended.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for continued thick to extremely thick fog over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh until January 10, and over east Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh until January 8. Cold wave conditions are also predicted for Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand for several days. Bihar and various northeastern states are also expected to face persistent dense fog, indicating a prolonged period of challenging weather and air quality conditions across the region.