Dense fog in Delhi- pollutioin?

Jan 21, 2010

Dense fog causes travel chaos

'The last time we had such dense fog conditions was in 2003,' B.P. Yadav, spokesman for the New Delhi weather office, told AFP. -- PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI - THICK fog across northern India has disrupted hundreds of flights and caused chaos on the densely populated region's roads, officials said on Thursday.

'The last time we had such dense fog conditions was in 2003,' B.P. Yadav, spokesman for the New Delhi weather office, told AFP. 'This is not an isolated phenomenon but it has covered the entire northern plains.'

More than 170 domestic and international flights were delayed, diverted or cancelled at New Delhi airport on Wednesday, while scores more flights were also hit on Thursday morning, an airport authority spokesman said.

Departures were delayed by up to 15 hours, and several international flights to New York and Europe were cancelled.

Police reported multiple accidents and long tailbacks on roads, while traffic on national highways was reduced to a crawl as drivers struggled with poor visibility.

Railway schedules were also affected with many trains cancelled. Fog has been blamed for a series of train accidents in the past three weeks that have claimed at least 13 lives. Foggy conditions are common across northern India in January, but the region has been hit by an unusually severe winter cold snap since the New Year. -- AFP