Dense fog continued to disrupt normal life in Odisha’s capital on Friday, severely affecting flight operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport for the second consecutive day. Airport authorities confirmed that at least three flights were cancelled and five others delayed due to poor runway visibility.
Officials said visibility levels dropped below the minimum operational requirement of 550 metres during early morning hours, making it unsafe for aircraft to take off or land. As a result, air traffic was regulated in line with standard aviation safety procedures.
Flights to Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Delhi were cancelled, while services to Varanasi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Durgapur, and Hyderabad faced delays ranging from two to three hours, according to airport sources.
Airport officials said dense fog over the runway restricted operations during critical morning slots, leading to a backlog of departures and arrivals. On Thursday, at least five flights were diverted to alternate airports due to similar weather conditions.
Passengers Face Inconvenience
Travellers were advised to check flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport, as foggy conditions are expected to continue in the coming days.
Despite arrangements made by airport authorities, several passengers experienced inconvenience due to extended waiting times and missed connecting flights.
“I had a flight scheduled for 7:15 am to Delhi with a further connection to Udaipur. The departure has been delayed multiple times, and now I may face a delay of over four hours,” said Siddharth Naidu, a passenger at the airport.
Fog Conditions Likely to Persist
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar remained covered in dense fog for the second straight day, although visibility showed marginal improvement compared to Thursday. Morning fog continued to affect both air and surface transport across the city.
The Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre has issued yellow and orange warnings for dense fog over the next four days. According to the forecast, foggy conditions are likely to persist across several parts of Odisha until January 6.
For the next 24 hours, a yellow warning has been issued for dense fog in 14 districts, while three districts have been placed under an orange warning, indicating reduced visibility and potential travel disruptions.
