New Delhi:
On Friday morning, the Delhi-Lucknow highway near the Bahadurgarh station area in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, witnessed a chaotic scene as dense fog led to a series of vehicle collisions. The incident occurred in the early hours, around 5:30 AM, when the temperature in Delhi had dropped to 9.6 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The dense fog, which reduced visibility to almost zero, created hazardous driving conditions. Hapur police reported that multiple accidents took place due to the low visibility, with visuals showing several cars stuck together, their bonnets severely damaged. The collisions were a result of vehicles hitting each other from behind, unable to see through the thick fog.
Delhi and its surrounding areas woke up to a blanket of dense fog, disrupting daily life. The fog not only affected road traffic but also impacted air and rail travel. Over 150 flights and about 26 trains were delayed due to the poor visibility. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) advised passengers to contact their airlines for updated flight information, highlighting the significant impact on flight operations.
The air quality in Delhi also deteriorated, with the Central Pollution Control Board reporting an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 409 at 7 AM, categorizing it as ‘severe’. This marked a significant decline from the previous day’s AQI of 299.
The IMD had issued an orange alert for Delhi, predicting dense to very dense fog throughout the day, which could affect airports, highways, and railway routes. The foggy conditions are part of the ongoing winter weather that has plagued the region with smog and poor air quality, making Delhi one of the most polluted capitals globally.
