Dense fog hits Delhi, flights delayed; IndiGo halts Leh operations due to snowfall
New Delhi: Dense fog blanketed parts of north India on Monday morning, disrupting flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, while IndiGo temporarily suspended flights to Leh due to heavy snowfall.
According to a report published by Hindustan Times, low visibility caused delays to several early-morning flights at Delhi airport, officials said. By 9 am, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 256, placing it in the ‘poor’ category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
In a travel advisory, IndiGo reportedly said flight operations to and from Leh were put on hold because of snowfall, affecting both take-offs and landings. The airline warned passengers of possible extended wait times and said boarding formalities may be completed in advance so that flights can depart quickly once clearance is granted. Passengers were advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Within Delhi, pollution levels varied across locations, with several areas recording ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ air quality, adding to visibility concerns. Authorities said foggy conditions were the primary reason for flight delays at IGI Airport.
Mumbai also witnessed hazy conditions at the start of the day. Visuals from the Bandra Kurla Complex and Bandra Reclamation showed smog hovering over the skyline. The AQI in these areas was recorded at 132, which falls under the ‘moderate’ category, according to CPCB data.
In the Northeast, Guwahati experienced a cold and foggy morning as a cold wave swept through the city. The AQI was measured at 72, categorised as ‘satisfactory’. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a minimum temperature of 14 degrees Celsius for Assam’s capital.
Meanwhile, Delhi authorities said Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) were lifted on Friday evening after air quality showed improvement due to favourable weather conditions.
However, officials urged residents to continue following measures under Stages I and II of GRAP to prevent further deterioration. The government also clarified that construction and demolition sites shut down for violations will not be allowed to reopen without specific approval from the Commission.
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Odisha govt halts salaries of 5 teachers after school fire injures 4 students
Bhubaneswar (PTI): The Odisha government on Tuesday halted the salaries of five teachers and issued show-cause notices to other staff of a state-run high school in Rayagada district, a day after four students sustained severe burn injuries in a fire incident on the premises of the institute.
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond told PTI that he has directed the department secretary to submit a detailed report on the incident and ordered a departmental inquiry to ascertain negligence, if any.
The students suffered burn injuries while playing around a fire during school hours.
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“The department has stopped the salaries of five teachers and issued show-cause notices to other staff members in connection with the incident,” he said.
The minister said that further action would be taken against teachers or staff if negligence in duty was established.
School and Mass Education Secretary N Thirumala Naik said three of the injured students were undergoing treatment at a hospital in Rayagada, while one critically injured student has been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
The school headmaster had lodged a complaint at Muniguda police station on Monday. Police have recorded statements of the injured students, officials said.
According to preliminary findings, the incident occurred when a classmate of the injured students allegedly threw colour thinner, an inflammable substance, onto a fire that had been lit by the students on the school building’s balcony.
Muniguda police station in-charge inspector Saudamini Behera said the students were playing on the school roof around 2 pm on Monday when they found a bottle of thinner stored there.
They allegedly poured it on the floor and set it on fire using a matchstick. One of the boys later added more thinner, causing the flames to flare up and injure four students, she said.
