Major airports across Bihar faced severe operational disruptions on Saturday as a thick blanket of dense fog engulfed the state, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays that left hundreds of passengers stranded.
Complete Shutdown at Darbhanga Airport
The situation was most critical at Darbhanga airport, where authorities were forced to cancel all scheduled flight operations for the entire day. The extreme weather conditions caused visibility to plummet to a mere 50 metres, with the Runway Visual Range (RVR) recorded at just 150 metres. Officials stated there was no improvement in conditions throughout Saturday.
Airport Director Dilip Kumar confirmed the complete halt, citing passenger safety as the paramount concern. He detailed the cancellations, which included multiple routes to major metropolitan hubs.
Detailed Breakdown of Cancelled Services
Kumar provided a specific list of affected flights:
- Five return flights to Mumbai and Delhi operated by SpiceJet (SG-334/335 and SG-495/8496).
- Mumbai services by Akasa Air (QP-1529/1530).
- Hyderabad and Delhi flights by IndiGo (6E-537/6417 and 6E-360/370).
- Additionally, two pre-planned cancellations for Delhi-bound flights (SG-751/752 and QP-1405/1406).
He emphasised that all affected passengers were notified in advance to minimise inconvenience. A coordinated assistance effort was managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) along with staff from the involved airlines—SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Akasa Air.
Ripple Effects in Patna and Purnia
The flight delays and cancellations were not confined to Darbhanga. Patna’s Jayprakash Narayan International Airport also felt significant impact, with eight incoming flights delayed and twelve departures disrupted. These were largely consequential delays stemming from the wider winter fog wave affecting flight schedules across northern India.
Despite the challenges, Patna airport managed to handle 36 flights and a footfall of approximately 10,000 passengers on Saturday, with morning and evening services being the hardest hit.
Operations at Purnia Airport were similarly limited, with disruptions particularly affecting routes to cities like Kolkata and Ahmedabad, leading to prolonged waiting times for travellers.
Advisories and Forecast for Coming Days
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting continued dense fog across Bihar and neighbouring states in the coming days, airlines have been proactively issuing travel advisories. An airline executive advised passengers to monitor real-time flight statuses closely through official airline apps or websites and to plan for early arrival at airports.
This episode highlights the recurring seasonal challenge that severe fog poses to aviation infrastructure in North India, urging both authorities and passengers to remain prepared for similar disruptions.
