Bhubaneswar: Dense fog enveloped Odisha capital for the second consecutive day, severely impacting operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) and causing cancellations and significant delays on Friday.
According to sources, low visibility over the runway led to cancellation of at least three flights, including services to major destinations such as Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Delhi. Five flights faced delays ranging from two to four hours, affecting routes to cities like Varanasi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Durgapur and Hyderabad.
One passenger reported facing repeated postponements of over four hours. “I had a flight to Delhi at 7.15 am and then to Udaipur. It got delayed to 10 am, and now it’s been pushed back further to 10:30 am, with a possible total delay exceeding four hours. I’ll have to rearrange my connecting travel plans. Since I’ve already entered the airport, I can’t leave and will be stuck waiting here for at least three hours,” said Siddharth Naidu, a passenger.
Airport authorities explained that safe flight operations require a minimum runway visual range (RVR) of around 550 metres. However, visibility plummeted to as low as 50 metres in the early morning hours, rendering take-offs and landings hazardous.
On January 1, six incoming flights were diverted to alternate airports like Kolkata and Raipur due to unsafe conditions. Passengers were also forced to sit on the floor and staircases due to a severe shortage of seating, exacerbating discomfort amid flight delays caused by dense fog. Viral videos on social media, including one shared by traveler NG Reddy highlighting people occupying even the children’s play area, drew widespread criticism and led airport authorities to issue a public apology.
BPIA Director Prasanna Pradhan acknowledged the temporary issue, attributing it to delayed flights and assuring that additional seats and assistance have been arranged to manage the situation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow and orange warnings for dense to very dense fog across multiple districts in Odisha, with conditions expected to linger till January 6. Forecasters predict continued low visibility, particularly in the mornings, which could further hamper air travel.
Authorities have urged travellers to monitor flight statuses via airline apps or websites before heading to the airport to minimise inconvenience. Major carriers like IndiGo have also issued advisories highlighting weather-related impacts on schedules in Bhubaneswar and other fog-hit regions.
