Delhi woke up to a blanket of thick fog on Friday, with visibility plummeting to zero in several areas, disrupting air travel and creating chaos for commuters.

India’s Meteorological Department issued an orange alert, the second-highest warning level, forecasting dense to very dense fog in the region. The alert highlighted potential disruptions to airports, highways, and railway routes across Delhi and its neighboring areas.

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport faced significant challenges as dense fog impacted flight operations. Airport authorities announced on social media platform X that flights lacking the CAT III navigation system, essential for safe landings in low visibility, might face delays or cancellations.

"Dense fog across the northern belt is impacting flights taking off and landing in Delhi, and some flights may need to be cancelled as the day progresses," stated IndiGo, India’s largest airline, in a social media post.

Adding to the city's woes, Delhi’s air quality remained abysmal, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rated as "severe" at 408 on Friday morning, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. A reading above 400 poses severe health risks, especially for vulnerable groups. The Swiss-based air quality monitoring group IQAir ranked Delhi as the second most polluted capital in the world on Friday.

This dense fog and hazardous air quality have become an annual challenge for the region, aggravated by the onset of winter and the city's struggle with smog and pollution. Residents are urged to limit outdoor activities and exercise caution while traveling.