New Delhi – A heavy shroud of smog enveloped Delhi and surrounding regions on Monday morning, with air quality lingering in the ‘severe’ category, sharply reducing visibility and causing disruptions to flight operations at the capital’s airport.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) registered 456 at 6 am, following a reading of 461 the previous day – marking the second-most polluted December day on record. AQI levels are classified as ‘good’ (0-50), ‘satisfactory’ (51-100), ‘moderate’ (101-200), ‘poor’ (201-300), ‘very poor’ (301-400), and ‘severe’ (401-500).
Visuals from ANI captured a dense haze over key locations, including Akshardham where the AQI reached 493, the Barapulla flyover at 433, and Barakhamba Road at 474 – all falling into the ‘severe’ range.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an ‘orange’ alert for persistent dense fog throughout the day.
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Delhi Airport posted an advisory on X, warning passengers of potential flight delays due to low visibility. “We are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience,” the statement read, urging travelers to check with their airlines for updates.
IndiGo echoed the concerns in its own advisory, noting that fog and low visibility would affect schedules. The airline advised passengers to monitor flight status online and allocate extra travel time to the airport amid slower road conditions caused by the haze, emphasizing safety as operations resume when conditions improve.
In response to deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Saturday, prohibiting all construction and demolition work across Delhi-NCR. The Delhi government also mandated that 50 percent of staff in offices work from home and shifted schools up to Class 11 (excluding Class 10) to hybrid learning modes.
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