New Delhi: A thick blanket of toxic smog continued to envelop Delhi and its surrounding regions on Monday morning, pushing air quality into the ‘severe’ category and significantly disrupting air and rail traffic across the national capital.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 456 at around 6 a.m., making it the second-worst air quality reading of the season. On Sunday, the AQI had climbed even higher to 461, marking one of the most polluted days recorded this year.
Under India’s AQI scale, readings between 401 and 500 are classified as ‘severe’ and pose serious health risks. By comparison, an AQI of 0–50 is considered ‘good’, while levels above 300 are already deemed hazardous.
Visuals from across the city showed an alarming drop in visibility. At Akshardham, the AQI touched 493, while other areas such as the Barapulla flyover recorded levels of 433 and Barakhamba Road 474. The dense haze severely reduced visibility on roads and flyovers, compounding traffic congestion during peak hours.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ alert for dense smog, warning residents of continued poor visibility and hazardous air conditions through the day. The smog has taken a toll on transportation, particularly aviation. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 reported that at least 110 departing flights and 37 arriving flights at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were delayed due to poor visibility. Airport authorities issued an advisory cautioning passengers about possible disruptions.
“Due to dense fog, flight operations may experience delays. We are coordinating closely with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience to passengers,” the Delhi Airport said in a post on social media, advising travellers to check with their respective airlines for real-time updates.
Major airlines also issued travel advisories. IndiGo warned that drastically reduced visibility could lead to delays and proactive cancellations throughout the day to ensure passenger safety. The airline urged travellers to factor in additional travel time to reach the airport, as road traffic is moving slower amid the smog.
Air India similarly stated that dense fog was affecting flight operations not only in Delhi but also across parts of northern India. Rail services have also been hit hard, with more than 90 trains arriving in or departing from Delhi reportedly delayed by six to seven hours due to low visibility conditions.
In response to the worsening pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Saturday enforced Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the strictest set of anti-pollution measures. These include a complete ban on construction and demolition activities across the Delhi-NCR region.
Additionally, the Delhi government has directed that 50 per cent of employees in both government and private offices work from home to reduce vehicular emissions. Schools have been instructed to shift to hybrid learning modes combining online and in-person classes for all students up to Class 11, with the exception of Class 10.
Authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activity, especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, as the capital continues to grapple with hazardous air and unfavourable weather conditions contributing to the pollution crisis.