Dense Fog Shrouds Delhi-NCR; Air Quality Remains ‘Very Poor’

Dense fog blanketed the Delhi-NCR region on Tuesday, sharply reducing visibility and exacerbating the already poor air quality.

The early morning hours were shrouded in a thick layer of fog mixed with smog, disrupting daily life and posing serious challenges for commuters across the region.

Visibility remained severely low, affecting flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Several flights faced delays or cancellations over the past few days due to persistent smog.

Road traffic was equally impacted, with areas such as the Rajokri flyover in south Delhi witnessing extremely slow vehicle movement as headlights and parking lights were switched on to navigate the thick haze.

Despite the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforcing all measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), pollution levels remained alarming.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 7 AM stood at 390, categorising it as ‘very poor’.

Several localities recorded AQI levels above 400, indicating severe pollution. Srinivaspuri reported 438, Mundka 422, Okhla 396, RK Puram 376, Anand Vihar 397, and Noida Sector 1 reached 403. Smog also engulfed areas such as Akshardham, with an AQI of 384.

NCR Cities Face Similar Challenges

Air quality in the surrounding NCR cities remained concerning. Gurugram’s Sector 51 recorded an AQI of 386, while Vasundhara in Ghaziabad reported 374.

Bahadurgarh faced extremely low visibility, with an AQI of 308 and minimum temperatures around 7°C. Palam recorded visibility of just 50 metres, while Safdarjung saw 100 metres.

Noida experienced a combination of severe pollution and cold wave conditions. Sector 62 posted an AQI of 396, Sector 116 at 426, Sector 125 at 420, Knowledge Park 3 in Greater Noida at 339, and Knowledge Park 5 at 407.

High concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particles across the region pose serious health risks for residents.

Authorities continue to urge caution, especially for vulnerable groups, as winter conditions persist and pollution levels remain dangerously high.

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