Residents of Delhi-NCR, particularly in Gurgaon, woke up to another day of severely hampered visibility as a thick blanket of dense to very dense fog, mixed with toxic air, engulfed the region on Friday. The hazardous conditions significantly disrupted early morning movement for commuters and air travellers alike.
Visibility Plummets, IMD Issues Color-Coded Alerts
The fog was so intense that visibility in several parts of Gurgaon dropped to below 100 metres, making navigation a major challenge. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been proactive with its warnings, issuing a district-wise alert for the period. For December 20, 21, and again from December 23 to 25, several areas in Haryana are expected to face similar conditions.
Northern districts including Ambala, Panchkula, and Yamunanagar are under a red alert, indicating the highest level of warning for very dense fog. Central and eastern districts, such as Gurgaon, Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, and Kaithal, have been placed under orange and yellow alerts. This suggests very dense fog in a few places and dense fog in isolated locations. The minimum temperature recorded in Gurgaon on Friday was 10 degrees Celsius.
Commuters and Travellers Face Major Disruptions
The impact on daily life was immediate and widespread. Traffic on major arterial roads and highways in Gurgaon and neighbouring NCR cities slowed to a crawl due to poor visibility. Commuters reported difficult and risky driving conditions, especially during the morning rush hours.
"I could barely see a few metres ahead on the Delhi-Jaipur highway this morning. Everyone was driving at a crawl and even that felt risky," shared Anil Kumar, a daily commuter from Sector 92 to Cyber City. The problem wasn't confined to highways. "Even internal roads were covered in thick fog. It took me almost double the usual time to drop my child off at school," said Ritu Mehra, a resident of Sector 56.
The disruptions extended to the skies. At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, several flights were delayed and a few early morning departures were cancelled due to the low visibility. Sandeep Verma, a stranded passenger, recounted, "My flight to Hyderabad was cancelled after repeated delays. The airline cited poor visibility and air traffic congestion because of fog." Airlines have advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport, as delays are likely during early hours.
Fog to Persist, Authorities Issue Safety Advisory
The IMD's five-day forecast indicates that these foggy conditions are likely to persist across large parts of Haryana until December 25, with a gradual improvement expected after that. While most districts might move to a 'no warning' category by December 22, isolated pockets of dense fog could still affect parts of southern and western Haryana during late nights and early mornings.
Officials explained that the combination of low wind speed, high humidity, and lower night temperatures is creating ideal conditions for the formation and persistence of fog. With smog adding to the woes, authorities have issued crucial advisories for public safety.
Motorists are advised to:
- Avoid early morning travel if possible.
- Use fog lights while driving.
- Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
The IMD has also specifically cautioned children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory ailments to limit their exposure to the outdoors during peak fog hours to protect their health.
