Fog leads to diversion of 18 flights

New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) Fog enveloped the Delhi skyline in the early hours today, forcing diversion of 18 flights, including three international ones, at the international airport.

At around 2300 hrs last night, dense fog enveloped Delhi, plummeting visibility levels to 250m, a spokesperson for the Airports Authority of India said.

''Low visibility procedures had to be put in force twice, first at 2313 hrs due to a sharp fall in visibility levels, and the second time at 0108 hrs, soon after it was terminated at 0048 hrs. The LVP was finally terminated at 0545 hrs after visibility improved to 3000m,''the spokesperson said.

Thereafter, at 0800 hrs, visibility improved further, facilitating simultaneous use of both the runways.

''A total of 18 flights, including 15 domestic and three international, were diverted due to fog,''the spokesperson said.

A total of 46 flights, including those of 10 domestic and 36 international airlines, were operated during the operation of the LVP, the spokesperson said.

The dip in visibility comes after a phase of unusually warm weather and normal visibility in the latter half of January.

UNI