Dense fog and high air quality levels have caused travel chaos in India’s capital Delhi.
Visibility was reported to be zero in several areas in the early hours of Friday morning, disrupting flights, trains and road traffic.
More than 150 flights were delayed and dozens of trains were delayed due to the weather, reports said.
This is a which is repeated a problem in northern India every winter, where freezing temperatures between December and January trap pollutants close to the ground – affecting visibility – making travel difficult and the air dangerous.
Delhi’s air quality index was above 400 in several areas, according to government data Safar website. This is more than 25 times higher than the safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Authorities in the capital have reinstated pollution control measures, which include a ban on construction and demolition activities, and online classes.
Video and photos from Delhi and nearby cities show a blanket of fog covering roads and farms and obscuring buildings.
Delhi Airport has issued a warning to passengers regarding possible disruption due to low visibility.
“As landings and take-offs resume at Delhi airport, non-CAT III compliant flights may be affected,” advisory to read. CAT III is a system that allows aircraft to land in conditions of poor visibility.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, departures at Delhi airport were delayed by more than 30 minutes and arrivals by almost 20 minutes.
Several passengers took to social media to complain about the chaos at the airport.
“No boarding gate displayed and no one seems to know the exact status,” wrote a user on X (formerly twitter).
Meanwhile, 26 trains to the city are delayed due to fog, Indian Railways said.
The Indian Meteorological Service has predicted light showers over the weekend, which are expected to improve visibility conditions.
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