Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) on Tuesday experienced a marginal enhancement in both air quality and visibility levels. This change was attributed to the arrival of north-westerly surface winds, which effectively dispersed the thick fog layer that had dominated the previous day. Despite this positive shift, authorities at the Delhi airport cautioned passengers that interruptions to flight schedules could continue, although they noted that normal operations were progressively returning to stability.
The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) registered an improvement to the 'very poor' category at 381 on Tuesday. This marked a notable decline from the 'severe' levels recorded the day before. The betterment was linked to stronger wind circulation, which diminished the fog's density, particularly during the morning period, resulting in improved atmospheric clarity in various areas, including Delhi proper, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram.
Travellers planning to fly through the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport were nonetheless advised to prepare for potential delays.
"Flight disruptions are steadily recovering, but disruptions may persist for certain departures and arrivals. For accurate and timely updates, please contact your airline directly," the airport stated in its official communication.
The preceding day, Monday, had seen significant operational challenges due to drastically reduced visibility caused by a heavy shroud of toxic haze and fog. On that day, no fewer than 228 flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport—comprising 131 departing flights and 97 arriving ones—while an additional five flights were rerouted to alternative destinations. The airport terminals descended into disorderly conditions, with numerous passengers left stranded and enduring extended waits to retrieve their baggage. These scenes evoked memories of a similar large-scale disruption involving IndiGo airlines that had occurred approximately two weeks prior.
Also Read: 61 flights cancelled, over 400 delayed due to Delhi smog
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