Severe smog delays flights, trains in Delhi and surrounding regions

Thick smog engulfed the Indian capital on Friday, prompting warnings of possible flight disruptions from airport and airline officials, as worsening air quality cut visibility to zero in some areas.

Delhi, which has been battling smog and poor air quality since the beginning of winter, ranked third among the world's most polluted capitals in Friday's live rankings by Swiss group IQAir.

Delays averaged eight minutes for 20 flights by 10:14 a.m., aviation website FlightRadar24 said.

New Delhi's air quality was rated "very poor" on Friday, with an index score of 351, the country's top pollution control body said, well beyond the levels from zero to 50 that it considers "good".

Flight tracking data from Flightradar reveals significant delays at Delhi Airport, with 72 outbound flights impacted and six cancellations. Arrival flights faced even greater disruptions, with 215 delays and 10 cancellations recorded due to the dense fog.

Train services were also impacted, with numerous departures and arrivals running late. Some routes have been rescheduled to accommodate the heavy fog. Travellers are urged to remain updated on the status of both flights and trains ahead of their journeys.

Several northern states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Bihar, are grappling with intense cold waves, worsened by thick fog, disrupting daily life and travel.