Delhi battles heavy smog: Airport issues advisory; passengers told to contact airlines

NEW DELHI: Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport issued an advisory on Saturday amid heavy smog and low visibility conditions across the capital.The airport assured the flight operations to be normal as 'Low Visibility Procedures' were in progress, and urged the passengers to stay updated with their respective flight schedules.

"Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information," read the advisory.The advisory came as air quality in Delhi deteriorated sharply, with the overall Air Quality Index recorded at 393 on Saturday morning, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Several areas of the city were blanketed in dense smog, significantly reducing visibility.While some locations recorded ‘severe’ air quality levels, others remained in the ‘very poor’ range.Officials blamed low wind speeds for trapping pollutants near the ground, while weak western disturbances are unlikely to bring immediate relief.According to the India Meteorological Department, moderate fog is expected to persist, further worsening air quality. Authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor exposure and follow health advisories as Delhi braces for another challenging winter smog episode.