A sudden surge in dense fog has crippled air traffic at two major Uttar Pradesh airports—Varanasi and Prayagraj—sparking widespread travel disruptions. IndiGo Airlines promptly issued a travel advisory, flagging major impacts on flight schedules.
Visibility nosedived to hazardous levels before dawn, grounding planes and delaying arrivals. ‘Fog density at Varanasi (VNS) and Prayagraj (IXD) has led to operational challenges,’ IndiGo announced on social media and its website. Passengers were urged to arrive early and monitor updates closely.
The ripple effects were immediate. Over 25 flights from Varanasi faced delays exceeding three hours, with several cancellations. Prayagraj mirrored the turmoil, its single runway overwhelmed by backed-up traffic. International connections, including those to Delhi and Mumbai, felt the pinch too.
Local media captured the human toll: weary passengers slumped in terminals, scrolling flight apps for hope. A bride-to-be en route to her wedding recounted her ordeal, her flight pushed back indefinitely.
Meteorologists explained the fog as a ‘radiation fog,’ forming under clear, calm nights with high humidity. IMD’s alerts had warned of such conditions, yet the aviation sector scrambled to respond. Compared to previous years, this fog arrived earlier and thicker.
IndiGo’s advisory emphasized safety first, detailing refund and rescheduling policies. The carrier, handling 60% market share, absorbed heavy costs from crew changes and aircraft groundings.
Government intervention followed. DGCA directed airlines to prioritize passenger comfort, mandating real-time information and amenities. Airports activated low-visibility protocols, including ground radar enhancements.
As afternoon approached, winds dispersed some fog, kickstarting recoveries. Full normalcy, however, remains elusive with forecasts of persistent poor visibility.
This incident spotlights systemic issues in India’s fog-prone aviation corridor. Calls grow for nationwide CAT-III B upgrades and AI-driven fog prediction tools. Until then, travelers must navigate the fog with patience and preparedness, turning potential disasters into mere inconveniences.