Bhubaneswar: Thick fog enveloped Odisha capital on the first day of the new year, severely impacting flight services at Biju Patnaik International Airport and causing widespread disruptions for travelers.
According to airport officials, poor visibility led to the diversion of five incoming flights and significant delays in both arrivals and departures. Three flights were rerouted to Raipur and two to Kolkata. The affected flights originated from major cities, including three from Delhi, one from Chennai, and one from Bengaluru, Airport Director Prasanna Pradhan confirmed.
Runway visibility plummeted to as low as 50 metres around 6:30 am, far below the minimum requirement of 550 metres for safe aircraft operati
ons under aviation regulations. This forced ground staff to halt landings and takeoffs until conditions improved later in the morning.
Outbound flights were also hit hard. A scheduled departure to Dehradun, originally set for 6 am, did not take off until approximately 10 am, while a flight to Jaipur experienced similar delays, Pradhan added.
Authorities assured passengers that all standard protocols were followed to ensure comfort during the wait, including provisions for refreshments and updates, along with the airlines.
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of persistent dense to very dense fog across parts of Odisha, including Bhubaneswar and surrounding districts like Khurda, till January 5, travellers have been urged to monitor flight statuses via airline apps or websites before heading to the airport.
The foggy conditions extended beyond the airport, blanketing the city and reducing visibility on roads. Motorists navigated cautiously with headlights and fog lights on, leading to slower traffic on highways and major thoroughfares as Bhubaneswar rang in 2026 under a hazy veil.