Widespread impact of dense fog was seen in Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal on Monday morning. Due to dense fog, visibility at Raja Bhoj Airport dropped to just 100 metres, while Runway Visual Range (RVR) was recorded between 150 to 250 metres. This situation was below the airport’s prescribed operational minima, due to which flight operations had to be temporarily stopped for some time.
According to airport officials, both takeoff and landing were not considered safe due to low visibility, so flights were put on hold as a precautionary measure. Departures and arrivals of many domestic flights were delayed, while some flights were grounded until conditions normalized. Passengers faced inconvenience, although safety was given top priority.
Throughout the entire incident, there was continuous and effective coordination between the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the airlines concerned. Weather updates were shared from time to time by IMD, based on which ATC took decisions to flight operations. Airlines also assisted in informing passengers about the situation and making alternative arrangements.
Airport authorities say that as the weather improved and visibility came in line with operational minima, flight operations were gradually resumed. Officials appealed to passengers to check their flight status before travelling, considering the possibility of fog during the winter season.
It is noteworthy that dense fog has become a common seasonal phenomenon during the winter season in North and Central India, which is affecting air, rail and road traffic. At Bhopal Airport too, all the agencies are working with caution under standard operating procedures to deal with such situations in future. Due to bad weather, Indigo airline canceled a Pune-Bhopal-Pune flight. All operations are being done safely as per prescribed procedures. Till 4:00 pm, 22 flights carrying 3,182 passengers were operated at Bhopal Airport.
Ravi Kumar’s report from Bhopal
